Editor's Pick | Political parties unable to produce data about electoral bond donors

The larger recipients of funding from electoral bonds, including the Bhartiya Janata Party, Congress and the Trinamool Congress have not shared details about their donors, in their submissions to the Election Commission of India (ECI) under the direction of the Supreme Court in May 2019 and November 2023. This came to light on Sunday when the Commission published the data previously submitted to it by political parties in sealed covers under the top court’s directions. In fact, only a handful of parties including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Janata Dal (Secular) have complied with the directive. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Janata Dal (United) revealed donor names from the start of the scheme in 2018 till May 2019. The largest recipient of electoral bonds, the BJP, pointed to the rules of the scheme that precluded parties from having to maintain donor details. Thus, it did not maintain a record of these particulars. Other parties too put forth the same argument, stating these were essentially bearer bonds. The details will only be available with the authorised bond issuer, the State Bank of India (SBI), they said. Congress and Trinamool Congress in fact stated in their 2019 disclosures that they had specifically asked the SBI to provide them with details of the donors’ names. SBI published the data on electoral bonds in two sets on March 14. The first contained the name of the purchaser of the bond, and the denomination of the bond purchased. The second set contained the date of encashment, the denomination and the political party that encashed it. A total of 22,217 bonds were purchased between April 1, 2019, and February 15, 2024, with 22,030 bonds encashed by political parties. The Hindu’s Editorials On the ballot: On the general election to the 18th Lok Sabha Bonded favours: On the electoral bond scheme, sordid revelations The Hindu’s Daily News Quiz This parliamentary election will be the second longest polling exercise in India’s electoral history. Which was the first one 1975-77 1951-52 1952-53 1962-63 To know the answer and to play the full quiz, click here. [logo] Editor's Pick 18 March 2024 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [Arrow]Open in browser [Mail icon]More newsletters Political parties unable to produce data about electoral bond donors The larger recipients of funding from electoral bonds, including the Bhartiya Janata Party, Congress and the Trinamool Congress [have not shared details about their donors]( in their submissions to the Election Commission of India (ECI) under the direction of the Supreme Court in May 2019 and November 2023. This came to light on Sunday when the Commission published the data previously submitted to it by political parties in sealed covers under the top court’s directions. In fact, only a handful of parties including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Janata Dal (Secular) have complied with the directive. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Janata Dal (United) revealed donor names from the start of the scheme in 2018 till May 2019. The largest recipient of electoral bonds, the BJP, pointed to the rules of the scheme that precluded parties from having to maintain donor details. Thus, it did not maintain a record of these particulars. Other parties too put forth the same argument, stating these were essentially bearer bonds. The details will only be available with the authorised bond issuer, the State Bank of India (SBI), they said. Congress and Trinamool Congress in fact stated in their 2019 disclosures that they had specifically asked the SBI to provide them with details of the donors’ names. SBI published the data on electoral bonds in two sets on March 14. The first contained the name of the purchaser of the bond, and the denomination of the bond purchased. The second set contained the date of encashment, the denomination and the political party that encashed it.  A total of 22,217 bonds were purchased between April 1, 2019, and February 15, 2024, with 22,030 bonds encashed by political parties. The Hindu’s Editorials [Arrow][On the ballot: On the general election to the 18th Lok SabhaÂ]( [Arrow][Bonded favours: On the electoral bond scheme, sordid revelations]( The Hindu’s Daily News Quiz This parliamentary election will be the second longest polling exercise in India’s electoral history. Which was the first one - 1975-77 - 1951-52 - 1952-53 - 1962-63 To know the answer and to play the full quiz, [click here](. 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