How the Left fared: Donations above Rs 20,000 double for CPI (M), triple for CPI (ML) L as compared to 2023-24
Not just NGOs and Unions, even jewellery and finance firms made significant contributions to the outfits in 2024-25
Written by Jatin Anand
New Delhi | December 22, 2025 08:30 AM IST
3 min read
Whatsapp
twitter
Facebook
Reddit
According to contribution reports submitted by the CPI (M), the party received donations from 745 donors in 2024-25 as compared to 524 donors in 2023-24.
Donations exceeding Rs 20,000 more than doubled for the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and almost tripled for the Communist Party of India (Marxist Leninist) Liberation, in 2024-25 as compared to the previous financial year.
Though contributions from organisational members, various allied Left unions and NGOs were at the core of donors’ lists of both Left parties, commercial entities – from Pharma companies to jewellery and finance firms – also figured on it, among others.
While the CPI (M) declared contributions of over Rs 16.95 crore in 2024-25 compared to a little more than Rs 8.53 crore in 2023-24, funds for the CPI (ML) L, under the ‘grants, donations and subscription fee’ head, increased from Rs 94.63 lakh on March 31, 2024 to Rs 2.98 crore by March 31, 2025 — marking an increase of over Rs 2.04 crore — in the year Lok Sabha elections were held.
According to contribution reports submitted by the CPI (M), the party received donations from 745 donors in 2024-25 as compared to 524 donors in 2023-24.
Among its biggest donors from the business sector was Kalyan Jewellers India Ltd. Trichur, with a donation of Rs 1 crore, in addition to Muthoot Finance and Hyderabad’s Natco Pharma Ltd with donations of Rs 50 lakh each among businesses. Besides, individuals from all over the country contributed amounts ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 25 lakh to the CPI (M).
Among individual donors, the list included amounts ranging from Rs 96,000 to Rs 3.90 lakh received from party members, such as Brinda Karat and Hannan Mollah, or those connected to the party’s organisation.
While Parliamentarian John Brittas contributed over Rs 12 lakh, CPI (M)’s late General Secretary, Sitaram Yechury, gave Rs 1.33 lakh.
Story continues below this ad
For the CPI (ML) L, of the 37 donors whose contributions were submitted, 14 were officially associated with the party’s organisation such as sitting MLAs, ex-MLAs, MLCs and MPs, contributing the lion’s share of Rs 32.80 lakh. The amount donated to the party ranged from Rs 3,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh with varying frequency and from donors all over the country.
Among businesses, Aadisach Global Services Private Limited, based out of Dhanbad in Jharkhand, contributed Rs 4 lakh. Local hotels, including Hotel Avion Palace and K F Residency, contributed a combined sum of Rs 71,000.
Jatin Anand is an Assistant Editor with the national political bureau of The Indian Express. With over 16 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is a seasoned expert in national governance, electoral politics, and bureaucratic affairs. Having covered high-stakes beats including the Election Commission of India (ECI), intelligence, and urban development, Jatin provides authoritative analysis of the forces shaping Indian democracy. He is an alumnus of Zakir Husain Delhi College (DU) and the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, where he specialized in Print Journalism.
Expertise
High-Stakes Beat Coverage: Throughout his decade-and-a-half career, Jatin has covered some of the most sensitive and influential beats in the country, including:
The Election Commission of India (ECI): Monitoring electoral policy, reforms, and the conduct of national and state polls.
National Security & Intelligence: Reporting on the internal mechanisms and developments within India's security apparatus.
Urban Development: Analyzing the policies and bureaucratic processes driving the transformation of India’s cities.
National Political Bureau: In his current role, he tracks the intersection of policy and politics, offering deep-dive reporting on the Union government and national political movements.
Academic Credentials:
Zakir Husain Delhi College (DU): Alumnus of one of Delhi's premier institutions.
Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai: Specialized in Print Journalism at India's most prestigious journalism school. ... Read More
3 min read
