New Delhi: The Biju Janata Dal has received electoral bond donations worth Rs 775.5 crore, of which over 88% of the funds have come from companies involved in mining, iron and steel or related industries.
Overall annual draw
In 2019, BJD received Rs 10 crore in bonds, but the momentum accelerated from 2020 onwards. In 2020, it got Rs 77 crore, followed by Rs 241 crore in 2021. While its donations in 2022 shrunk to Rs 195 crore, in 2023, it reached an unprecedented high of Rs 252.5 crore, marking its best performance till date.
Big fish
The single biggest contribution to the BJD’s electoral funds came from Essel Mining and Industries, owned by Aditya Birla Group, which has provided Rs 174.5 crore to the party.
Other entities within the Aditya Birla Group, such as Utkal Alumina, UltraTech Cement, and Grasim Industries, have also donated to the party.
Utkal Alumina purchased electoral bonds worth Rs 90 crore, while Grasim Industries and UltraTech Cement each donated Rs 10 crore.
Overall, Aditya Birla Group’s contributions amount to Rs 264.5 crore, constituting 34.10% of the BJD’s electoral bond fund.
These contributions were made through various companies within the group.
Overall, Aditya Birla Group’s total bonds are valued at Rs 437.8 crore, of which over 60% was directed to the ruling party in Odisha, where the group holds significant business interests.
The OP Jindal Group, represented by Jindal Steel Power, the state’s largest integrated steel plant owner, donated Rs 100 crore to the party.
With extensive operations in the state, including a steel plant, pellet plant, power plant, and mines, the group’s contribution is substantial.
Additionally, Jindal Stainless, another group entity, contributed Rs 30 crore, bringing the total group contribution to Rs 130 crore.
The Rashmi Group, the parent company of Orissa Metaliks, Rashmi Cement, and Rashmi Metaliks, contributed a total of Rs 90 crore to the BJP through its subsidiaries. Rashmi Cement donated Rs 45 crore, Rashmi Metaliks contributed Rs 27 crore, and Orissa Metaliks gave Rs 8 crore.
BJD has also received notable contributions from mining companies. The Vedanta Group, owned by Anil Agarwal, provided Rs 40 crore, while the local mining company SN Mohanty donated Rs 45 crore, and Penguin Trading and its proprietor contributed Rs 32.5 crore.
