The Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has emerged as the second richest regional party of the country after Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the party ruling Tamil Nadu, going by their earnings during the financial year 2021-22.
However, in terms of increase in income during this period the BJD remains at the top. This has been revealed in the report of the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) which was made public on Saturday.
The report has triggered a debate in Odisha with Opposition BJP and Congress pointing accusing fingers at the BJD for taking undue benefits from industrial houses. On the other hand, the BJD claimed like all other parties it also received donations and the details were submitted to the Election Commission. The party also said that the BJP being the richest party in the country should not point fingers at others.
As per the report, the total income declared by 36 regional political parties of the country was Rs 1,213 crore. The BJD with its income of Rs 307 crore emerged as the second richest regional party behind DMK which reported an income of Rs 318 crore.
“The DMK reported having the highest income of Rs 318.745 crore which forms 26.27% of the total income of all the parties analysed, followed by BJD with an income of Rs 307.288 crore or 25.33% and TRS whose income was Rs 218.112 crore or 17.98% of the total income of the 36 Regional parties analysed in this report,” the report said. TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samiti) is renamed Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) and is in power in Telangana. However, the BJD recorded the highest increase in terms of income during 2021-22. “The BJD reported the highest increase in its income of Rs 233.941 crore followed by TRS and DMK which declared a total increase of Rs 180.454 crore and Rs 168.795 crore respectively, between FY20-21 and FY21-22,” said the report.
Electoral bonds remain the source of major income for the parties. “The DMK received the highest donations worth Rs 306.00 crore or 96.002% of its total income through electoral bonds followed by the BJD declaring electoral bonds worth Rs 291.00 crore or 94.699% and TRS (Rs 153.00 crore or 70.147%),” the report said.
Reacting to the BJD’s income, BJP’s general secretary Prithiviraj Harichandan said: “During the signing of MoUs with industries, the BJD asks them to give donations. Many of them return empty-handed when they fail to cough up the money demanded. The BJD has black money worth over Rs 4,500 crore.”
Senior Congress MLA Suresh Kumar Routray said: “We are astonished how the BJD has managed such huge funds. People will give BJD a befitting reply in 2024.”
However, the BJD said every single paisa that it receives is accounted for and revealed to the poll panel. Everything is in the public domain. “Before accusing us of committing irregularities, the BJP should not forget that it remains India’s number one party as far as receiving funds and donations is concerned. Instead of pointing fingers at others they should look inwards,” said BJD MLA Dhruba Charan Sahoo.