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Political Parties Clash Over Electoral Bond Data

Kalyani Jha
15 Mar, 2024

Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, representing the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), has raised concerns about the absence of AIMIM from the electoral bond recipient list released by the Election Commission. This comes amidst a heated exchange of accusations between political parties following the revelation of donor data.

According to data shared by the Election Commission, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) received a staggering ₹6,060 crore in electoral bonds, making it the top recipient. The Trinamool Congress secured ₹1,610 crore, followed by the Congress with ₹1,422 crore and BRS with ₹1,215 crore. Owaisi pointed out that despite the significant funds received by other parties, AIMIM did not receive any money, countering allegations of being aligned with the BJP.

Owaisi echoed the sentiments of other political parties by raising quid pro quo allegations, suggesting that donations through electoral bonds come with expectations of favors or benefits in return. He criticized the system, implying that parties receiving such large sums are obliged to reciprocate in some manner.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court intervened in the matter, directing the State Bank of India (SBI) to disclose the unique alphanumeric numbers associated with each electoral bond. This information is crucial for matching donors with recipient political parties and ensuring transparency in political funding. The court emphasized that SBI has a duty to reveal this information and issued a notice to the bank to explain its non-compliance with previous directives.

The clash over electoral bond data underscores ongoing concerns about transparency, accountability, and potential quid pro quo arrangements in political funding. The Supreme Court's intervention reflects the importance of addressing these issues to uphold the integrity of democratic processes and ensure fair and transparent elections.