Electoral bonds: 10 biggest revelations as SBI, Election Commission release detailed data
earlier submitted the data to the ECI. Let’s take a look at 10 key takeaways. 1.
Future Gaming and Hotel Services, not widely recognised in the public eye, emerged as the top purchaser of electoral bonds, with an investment of ₹1,368 crore. This figure surpasses contributions from many notable corporate entities. Future Gaming was under scrutiny by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in March 2022.
2. Among the top donors were industry giants such as steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, telecommunications behemoth Bharti Airtel led by Sunil Bharti Mittal and mining conglomerate Vedanta headed by Anil Agarwal. Other renowned firms include ITC, Mahindra and Mahindra, DLF, PVR, Birla, Bajaj, Jindal, Spicejet, IndiGo and the Goenkas.
3. Other donors include Grasim Industries, Megha Engineering, Piramal Enterprises, Torrent Power, DLF Commercial Developers, Vedanta Ltd., Apollo Tyres, Edelweiss, Keventer, Sula Wines, Welspun, Sun Pharma, Vardhman Textiles, Jindal Group, Phillips Carbon Black Limited, CEAT tyres, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Kaypee Enterprises, Cipla and Ultratech Cement. 4.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) benefited the most, securing ₹6,566 crore (54.77% of the total donations) in donations through the electoral bonds. It was way ahead of its closest competitor, the Congress party, which received ₹1,123 crore (9.37%). Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress, which operates primarily in West Bengal, received ₹1,092 crore (9.11%).
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