Electoral bonds data: BJP cited law to keep names out, DMK reached out to its donors

“The scheme… does not require the details of the donor to be furnished to the donee… Be that as it may, following the directions of Hon’ble Supreme Court, we contacted our donors and we were able to collect the details from them,” the DMK said in its letter to the ECI on November 14, 2023.

The Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka, which received Rs 50 crore from Megha Engineering, the second-largest purchaser of electoral bonds, told The Indian Express that most donations to political parties are made with prior knowledge, allowing it to share details of its donors with the EC.

“We, as a party, know who has purchased electoral bonds in our favour. Once they purchase the bonds, we will get information on who the donor was as we will have to encash the amount… Usually, the donations are done with prior knowledge. Sometimes, we seek funds from various companies during elections to fund poll activities,” said a senior JD(S) leader on the condition of anonymity.

In addition to the DMK and JD(S), the AIADMK, NCP, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), JD(U), AAP, Samajwadi Party, Sikkim Democratic Front, and a Goa party, the Maharashtra Gomantak Party, also disclosed details of donors, albeit partially, to the ECI.

When contacted, NCP (Sharad Pawar) treasurer Hemant Takle said, “We don’t want to comment on it. All we had to say has already been provided.”

The NCP, in its submission to the ECI, disclosed Bharti Airtel Ltd and Serum Institute’s Cyrus Poonawala among its electoral bond donors in 2018-19.

As reported by The Indian Express on Monday, the BJP’s official position before the ECI was to quote the rulebook and state that it was not obligated by law to maintain records of the names and particulars of electoral bond donors, and therefore, did not possess such details. The Congress, on the other hand, told the ECI that it has requested the SBI to share the identity of its bond donors directly with the Commission as it didn’t have these details.

The disclosure by the 10 regional parties is not unprecedented. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha had voluntarily disclosed Rs 1 crore donation from Hindalco Industries Limited through an electoral bond in 2019-20. In April 2021, JMM spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya had told The Indian Express that his party found out about the donor only when Hindalco reached out, seeking a receipt for the contribution.