Think-tank reports discrepancies in political funding

An analysis by think-tank ADR shows major discrepancies in funding for political parties, and says known income for four national parties was less than the donation declared by one electoral trust that belongs to the Bharti group.

National parties are supposed to disclose all donations above Rs.20,000 as per Election Commission guidelines.

Five parties -- Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) -- submitted their contribution statements for donations above Rs.20,000 for the financial year 2013-14.

However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did not submit its contribution report.

The BSP declared nil income above Rs.20,000.

The total income of the remaining four parties from known sources of funding was Rs.76.93 crore.

However, one electoral trust -- Satya Electoral Trust, set up by the Bharti group as per the statement -- alone declared an amount of Rs.81.87 crore as donations to parties, including the BJP, said ADR.

Bharti Airtel Ltd. contributed the maximum amount of Rs.28 crore which formed 33 percent of the total donation by Satya Electoral Trust, followed by DLF Ltd. which donated Rs.20 crore.