The details available on the Election Commission (EC) website showed that Jaipur-based Small Donations Electoral Trust made donations worth Rs 3.31 crore to the Congress in 2020-21 in 11 instalments while the Janpragati Electoral Trust donated Rs 37 lakh to four political parties. The Progressive Electoral Trust linked to the Tata Group declared ‘nil’ contributions to political parties in 2020-21.
According to details filed by the Small Donations Electoral Trust, it received Rs 3,32,30,270 as contributions in 2020-21 and donated Rs 3,31,00,000. The Rs 3.31 crore was donated to the Congress in 11 installments, all made on different dates in March 2021.
Delhi-based Janpragati Electoral Trust received contributions worth Rs 39 lakh from Harrisons Malyalam Limited and made donations worth Rs 37 lakh — Rs 12 lakh to Congress, Rs 2 lakh to Lok Thantrik Janatha Dal (Shreyams Kumar), Rs 5 lakh to CPI and Rs 18 lakh to CPI (M).
Progressive Electoral Trust — which in 2018-19, the year of Lok Sabha poll, had contributed Rs 472 crore to parties, including Rs 356 crore to BJP — has declared nil donations for the second straight year.
In its contribution report, Progressive Electoral Trust said that it has not received any donations in 2020-21. It showed ‘nil’ contribution received in 2020-21.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) got over 76 per cent of donations made by electoral trusts to the parties in 2019-20, according to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
