https://www.reuters.com/world/india/obscure-trust-links-indias-top-businesses-with-modis-election-war-chest-2024-03-14/ O
bscure trust links India's top businesses with Modi's election war chest By Krishn Kaushik Public records and party reports show BJP's war chest has swelled since Modi became prime minister in 2014, from 7.8 billion rupees ($94.09 million) in March 2014 to 70.4 billion rupees in March 2023. Congress' funds increased from from 5.38 billion rupees to 7.75 billion rupees in the same time period.
The financing gap between the BJP and Congress is a cause of concern, said Jagdeep Chhokar of Association of Democratic Reforms, a Delhi-based civil society group that was the main petitioner behind the electoral bonds challenge in the Supreme Court.
"Level playing field is an essential part of democracy," he said.
March 14, 2024
Comment by SS in WA: Electoral donations of considerably large amounts may take any of the following forms:
1. Cheque payment.
2. Via specially constituted trusts.
3. Electoral Bonds.
4. Underhand cash payments.
The first three, whatever other issues, are "white" and, consequently, the political parties have to account for the expenditure of these amounts.
However, it's largely held, that the bulk of the electoral expenditures are in "black" -- neither "receipt" is acknowledged nor "expenditure" is accounted for.
In fact, it should not escape our attention that till now no Electoral Bond has been linked to the Adani