New Delhi: Donations received by state political parties surged nearly threefold in 2024-25 compared with the previous year, according to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
ADR, a Delhi-based organisation, compiles and publishes details on political funding based on statements submitted by parties to the Election Commission. In its latest release, it said state parties collected ₹1,051.56 crore in 2024-25, up from ₹347.69 crore in 2023-24.
The DMK topped the list in 2024-25 with ₹365.78 crore in donations. The report noted that the party received ₹300.64 crore from donors whose identities were not disclosed.
West Bengal’s Trinamool Congress ranked second with ₹184.96 crore, followed by Andhra Pradesh’s YSR Congress with ₹140.04 crore. In 2023-24, the Telugu Desam Party had led with ₹100.19 crore.
ADR also said parties including Trinamool Congress, YSR Congress, AIADMK and Biju Janata Dal largely depended on donations from large companies and business entities. Corporate and business-linked contributions totalled ₹227.61 crore in 2023-24 and ₹644.93 crore in 2024-25, with Prudent Electoral Trust identified as the biggest donor across both years, contributing ₹434 crore in all.
