Donations to six Gujarat-based outfits exceeded those to national parties except BJP: Report

Donations made to six political outfits based in Gujarat were more than those made to national parties, except the Bharatiya Janata Party, in the financial year 2023-’24, BBC News Hindi reported on Friday.

The outfits categorised as registered unrecognised political parties were the Aam Janmat Party, Bharatiya National Janata Dal, Garib Kalyan Party, New India United Party, Satyawadi Rakshak Party and the Swatantrata Abhivyakti Party.

The six parties received donations of Rs 1,700 crore during the fiscal year 2023-’24, BBC reported citing data from the Election Commission and the Association for Democratic Reforms poll watchdog.

Five parties recognised as national parties at the time – the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the National People’s Party – had received donations of Rs 1,480 crore.

The Aam Janmat Party had received Rs 620 crore in donations in the fiscal year, more than double of the Congress’ Rs 281 crore, BBC reported.

The financial year included the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections held in April and May that year.

While the five national parties had fielded 893 candidates in the 2024 general election, the six Gujarat-based outfits had fielded 15 candidates.

Of the six registered unrecognised parties, four were based in one area of Ahmedabad, Naroda.

In August...

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