Only the Shiromani Akali Dal declared donations through electoral bonds

While the total funds collected by 13 political parties during the last phase of Assembly elections was Rs 1441.97 crores, parties spent less than one-third of the amount on electioneering. 

An analysis by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) has revealed that during the Assembly elections of Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand Assembly Elections held in 2022 total expenditure incurred was Rs 470.101 cr.

The expenditure is made at the central and state levels by parties for publicity; travel and other expenses; expenditure towards candidates; expenditure incurred on publishing criminal antecedents of the candidate(s) and expenses on a virtual campaign through social media platforms/apps/and other means. 

Across the states, the greatest expenses were made on publicity and the lowest on publishing the criminal backgrounds of candidate(s). 

While eight national parties and 16 regional parties were considered for analysis, the expenditure statements of only 13 political parties are available on the Election Commission’s website. Among the parties which have not disclosed their details are the Communist Party of India, the Janta Dal (United), the Samajwadi Party and the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas).

Political parties are required to submit statements providing information on funds collected and spent between the announcement and completion of elections. This period could be between three weeks to three months based on the notification issued by the Election Commission.

Notably, only the Shiromani Akali Dal declared donations through electoral bonds worth Rs 50 lakhs in their election expenditure statement.

The highest expenditure was made in Uttar Pradesh- given that it is the state with the highest number of members of the Vidhan Sabha. At 73 crores plus, expenses in the state were more than double that of Punjab which stood second with Rs 33.95 crores. 

ADR has recommended that the details of all donors who contribute to national and regional parties exclusively for their election campaigns must be declared in the public domain irrespective of the amount donated. 

A format similar to the donations report along with the date of donations, submitted to the ECI on an annual basis, has to be prescribed for the expenditure statement to bring in more transparency in the finances of the political parties especially during elections when it is said that black money plays a major role.

It has also suggested that wherever possible expenditure must be limited to transactions via cheque/DD/RTGS to reduce use of black money in elections and the appointment of observers for monitoring the expenditure of political parties.