Hyderabad: With funds and assets valued at ₹1,618 crore, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) led by K Chandrasekhar Rao is currently one of the most affluent regional parties in the country. As per the report on funding contributions filed with the Election Commission of India (ECI) for fiscal 2023-24, BRS received a staggering ₹580 crore in donations, making it the highest among regional parties. Of this, ₹495 crore came through electoral bonds, while the Prudent Electoral Trust contributed ₹85 crore.
The BJP continued to attract massive corporate funding. Covaxin manufacturer Bharat Biotech International Limited, based in Hyderabad’s Genome Valley, emerged as the largest individual donor, contributing ₹50 crore to the ruling party at the Centre.
Major donors to BJP included Aparna Farms and Estates, which pledged ₹5.5 crore, and Hetero Infrastructure SEZ Private Limited and LS Consulting Services LLP, which donated ₹2.5 crore each. LS Consulting Services was incorporated in 2022 and was only one-year-old when it contributed to the party.
Hetero, on the other hand, was raided by income tax department after Covid-19 pandemic. Hetero Infrastructure SEZ is owned by the family of BRS Rajya Sabha MP Bandi Partha Saradhi Reddy, but featured among the BJP’s prominent donors.
Others who gave money to the BJP included Aparna Infrastructure (₹1 crore) and DRS Infra (₹5 crore).
Congress gained support from Telangana-based real estate and pharma firms. It reported sizeable contributions, including ₹25 crore from Telangana-based real estate giant Rajapushpa Properties.
The Rajapushpa group is closely tied to the BRS, with family member P Venkatram Reddy contesting as a BRS candidate for Medak parliamentary seat and serving as an MLC. Rajapushpa promoters P Sreenivas Reddy and Sujith Reddy each donated ₹5 crore to the Congress, while other family members contributed additional amounts.
Natco Pharma, also based in Telangana, donated ₹2 crore to the Congress. Significantly, the donations were made before Congress came to power in Telangana.
In neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, YSR Congress Party reported ₹184 crore in contributions and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) received ₹100 crore.
Of the ₹184 crore in contributions to YSRCP, ₹121 crore was through electoral bonds and ₹62.5 crore from Prudent Electoral Trust.
The TDP’s key contributor was Guntur MP and NRI businessman Pemmasani Chandrashekar and his family who gave ₹46.5 crore. The TDP also received ₹33 crore from Prudent Electoral Trust and ₹10 crore from Bhasyam Constructions.
The contributions point to the continuing influence of corporate entities and high-net-worth individuals in political funding. Electoral trusts and bonds remain significant channels for donations, with major regional and national parties leveraging these avenues to fuel their campaigns.
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BRS
Total assets: ₹1,618 crore (as per audit report for FY 2023-24). Expenditure during Lok Sabha elections: ₹120 crore (includes party propaganda and candidate expenses). Expenditure during Telangana state legislative assembly elections: ₹175 crore
YSR Congress Party (YSRCP)
Total assets: ₹241 crore (as per audit report for FY 2023-24). Total expenditure for assembly and parliamentary polls: ₹328 crore.
Telugu Desam Party (TDP)
Total assets: ₹343 crore (as per audit report for FY 2023-24)
The BJP continued to attract massive corporate funding. Covaxin manufacturer Bharat Biotech International Limited, based in Hyderabad’s Genome Valley, emerged as the largest individual donor, contributing ₹50 crore to the ruling party at the Centre.
Major donors to BJP included Aparna Farms and Estates, which pledged ₹5.5 crore, and Hetero Infrastructure SEZ Private Limited and LS Consulting Services LLP, which donated ₹2.5 crore each. LS Consulting Services was incorporated in 2022 and was only one-year-old when it contributed to the party.
Hetero, on the other hand, was raided by income tax department after Covid-19 pandemic. Hetero Infrastructure SEZ is owned by the family of BRS Rajya Sabha MP Bandi Partha Saradhi Reddy, but featured among the BJP’s prominent donors.
Others who gave money to the BJP included Aparna Infrastructure (₹1 crore) and DRS Infra (₹5 crore).
Congress gained support from Telangana-based real estate and pharma firms. It reported sizeable contributions, including ₹25 crore from Telangana-based real estate giant Rajapushpa Properties.
The Rajapushpa group is closely tied to the BRS, with family member P Venkatram Reddy contesting as a BRS candidate for Medak parliamentary seat and serving as an MLC. Rajapushpa promoters P Sreenivas Reddy and Sujith Reddy each donated ₹5 crore to the Congress, while other family members contributed additional amounts.
Natco Pharma, also based in Telangana, donated ₹2 crore to the Congress. Significantly, the donations were made before Congress came to power in Telangana.
In neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, YSR Congress Party reported ₹184 crore in contributions and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) received ₹100 crore.
Of the ₹184 crore in contributions to YSRCP, ₹121 crore was through electoral bonds and ₹62.5 crore from Prudent Electoral Trust.
The TDP’s key contributor was Guntur MP and NRI businessman Pemmasani Chandrashekar and his family who gave ₹46.5 crore. The TDP also received ₹33 crore from Prudent Electoral Trust and ₹10 crore from Bhasyam Constructions.
The contributions point to the continuing influence of corporate entities and high-net-worth individuals in political funding. Electoral trusts and bonds remain significant channels for donations, with major regional and national parties leveraging these avenues to fuel their campaigns.
Graphics
BRS
Total assets: ₹1,618 crore (as per audit report for FY 2023-24). Expenditure during Lok Sabha elections: ₹120 crore (includes party propaganda and candidate expenses). Expenditure during Telangana state legislative assembly elections: ₹175 crore
YSR Congress Party (YSRCP)
Total assets: ₹241 crore (as per audit report for FY 2023-24). Total expenditure for assembly and parliamentary polls: ₹328 crore.
Telugu Desam Party (TDP)
Total assets: ₹343 crore (as per audit report for FY 2023-24)
