Bhubaneswar: The ruling party of Odisha, Biju Janata Dal (BJD), reportedly received a staggering sum of Rs 1,020 crore in electoral bonds over a span of five years, according to data released by the Election Commission. The data, previously submitted to the Supreme Court in a sealed cover and disclosed by the Election Commission on Sunday, sheds light on the significant financial influx into the regional party’s coffers through this opaque mode of political funding.
During the period from July 16, 2018, to July 15, 2023, BJD encashed a substantial portion of these funds, amounting to Rs 944.5 crore, through electoral bonds. A closer examination of the disclosed information unveils the intricate details of the party’s financial transactions, revealing that Rs 244 crore were redeemed between July 7, 2018, and April 5, 2019. Notably, this nine-month period witnessed the acquisition of 214 bonds of Rs 1 crore denomination, 299 bonds of Rs 10 lakh denomination, and 10 bonds of Rs 1 lakh denomination.
While BJD adhered to the Supreme Court’s interim order of April 12, 2019, by submitting details of electoral bonds on June 20, 2019, it notably refrained from disclosing the identities of the donors. Among the prominent contributors to BJD’s electoral funding are several companies operating in sectors such as infrastructure, mining, and metal industries in Odisha. Notable names include Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd, Utkal Alumina International Ltd, Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, Vedanta Ltd, and others.
The Election Commission’s data, released in two phases, further delineates the distribution of funds over successive years, revealing a consistent influx of electoral bonds into BJD’s financial reserves. The analysis indicates that the party encashed bonds worth Rs 213.5 crore in 2018-19, followed by Rs 50.5 crore in 2019-20, Rs 67 crore in 2020-21, Rs 291 crore in 2021-22, Rs 152 crore in 2022-23, and Rs 170.5 crore in 2023-24 (up to September 30, 2023).
Additionally, insights from the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) underscore the scale of electoral bond transactions involving BJD, revealing that the party encashed a total of 861 bonds valued at Rs 775.5 crore between April 12, 2019, and February 15, 2024. This substantial financial inflow through electoral bonds consolidates BJD’s position among the highest receivers of such funds, alongside other major political entities like BJP, TMC, Congress, and BRS, collectively accounting for 87% of the total funds received through this channel.
