Chowkidar effect: BJP mops up bulk of private security donations

While real estate firms donated both to BJP and Congress, private security sector donations were unique to the BJP; at least seven shelled out Rs 61 lakh in 2017-18

With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) mobilising itself on social media and on the ground by invoking the chowkidar (watchman) tag, the move has both political and business underpinnings. For one, private security companies -– a booming sector in India -- have donated varying amounts of money to the BJP.

A look at the contribution reports of political parties shows that while real estate companies donated both to BJP and Congress, private security sector donations were unique to the BJP. In 2017-18 at least seven private security companies donated to a sum of almost Rs 61 lakh to the party.