The income of regional political parties from unknown sources in the financial year 2021-22 amounted to Rs 887.55 crore, accounting for 76 per cent of their total earnings, according to the Association of Democratic Reform (ADR). The figure indicates a rise in parties’ income from unknown sources in comparison to 2020-21 when the total income of regional parties accounted for Rs 530.70 crore, of which Rs 263.93 crore or 49.73 per cent came from unknown sources.
According to the report, donations over Rs 20,000 are defined to have come from “known” sources as their donor details are available through contribution reports as submitted by regional parties to the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The “unknown” sources are income declared in the annual audit report by these parties but without giving the source of income.
At present, political parties are not required to reveal the name of individuals or organisations giving less than Rs 20,000 and those who donated via electoral…
