BJP received maximum donations in two Delhi assembly polls: Report

NDA major BJP received maximum donations of Rs 608.21 crore while Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP reported the highest surge of 275 per cent in funds flowing in its coffers during assembly election in Delhi in 2013 and 2015, a report has claimed.

According to the report released by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch, which accessed information on donations declared by political parties in the national capital, BJP received funds worth Rs 170.86 crore in 2013-14, while in 2014-15 its funds swelled to Rs 437.35 crore, a surge of 156 per cent.

AAP reported to Election Commission that it received donations of Rs 9.42 crore in 2013-14, when the party first came to power in the national capital. In 2014-15, the party's funds increased to Rs 35.28 crore, a rise of 275 per cent vis- -vis the previous fiscal, the organisations said. Congress got donations worth Rs 141.46 crore in 2014-15, Rs 81.88 more than what it received in the previous fiscal. Sharad Pawar-led NCP reported to have received Rs 52.84 crore in the two years.

According to the report, compared to other political outfits, CPI and CPI (M) saw minimal increase in their funds during the period concerned. CPI declared that it had received Rs 1.22 crore in 2013-14, while in the coming fiscal the size of donations swelled to Rs 1.33 crore, that is, a rise of 9 per cent. The CPI (M) received Rs 2.09 crore and Rs 3.42 crore in those years.

"BSP declared that the party did not receive any donations above Rs 20,000 during FY 2014-15, as it has been declaring for the past 10 years," the ADR and National Election Watch noted.

Over all, the five national parties received funds to the tune of Rs 870.15 crore over the period (Rs 247.77 crore in 2013-14 and Rs 622.38 crore in 2014-15), the report said. Delhi had gone to polls in December 2013 and February 2015.