BRS Tops Income Chart Among Regional Parties for FY 2022-23: ADR Report
The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has emerged at the forefront of regional parties in India, recording the highest income of Rs 737.67 crore for the fiscal year 2022-23, comprising 42.38% of the total income among 39 parties analyzed, according to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
Following BRS, the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) reported an income of Rs 333.45 crore (19.16%), securing the second position in the income chart. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) followed with an income of Rs 214.35 crore (12.32%).
The top five parties collectively accounted for Rs 1,541.32 crore, constituting 88.56% of the total income among the analyzed parties, which totaled Rs 1,740.48 crore.
However, the ADR report highlighted challenges in financial transparency, noting that only 16 out of 39 parties adhered to the Election Commission’s deadline for submitting annual audited accounts by October 31, 2023. Delays were observed in submissions from 23 parties, with audit reports for 18 parties, including prominent ones, yet to be published on the ECI website.
Furthermore, the report disclosed that 19 regional parties declared unspent income, with BRS leading at Rs 680.20 crore, followed by the Biju Janata Dal and DMK.
Voluntary contributions, including donations and electoral bonds, constituted the primary income source for parties, amounting to Rs 1,522.46 crore, of which Rs 1,285.83 crore were from electoral bonds. However, only eight regional parties disclosed receiving donations through electoral bonds.
The ADR report recommended stricter enforcement of deadlines for audit submissions and advocated for full donor disclosure under the Right to Information Act to ensure transparency in political funding.
