Regional Parties' Declared Donations Cross Rs 1,050 Crore, DMK Tops List: ADR Report

New Delhi: Declared donations received by regional political parties in India have more than tripled, crossing Rs 1,050 crore, according to a report released by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). The study found that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) received the highest amount of declared donations among all regional parties during the reporting period.

The ADR report analyses contributions of Rs 20,000 and above disclosed by recognised regional political parties to the Election Commission of India. It highlights a significant increase in funding compared to the previous reporting cycle, indicating a sharp rise in financial support for regional political organisations.

According to the report, regional parties collectively declared donations exceeding Rs 1,050 crore, marking an increase of more than three times over the previous period. The surge reflects growing financial mobilisation by regional political parties ahead of major elections in different parts of the country.

The DMK accounted for the largest share of declared donations, emerging as the top recipient among regional parties. Other recognised regional parties also reported substantial contributions, though their collections remained well below that of the Tamil Nadu-based party.

ADR noted that corporate entities continued to be the largest source of declared donations, with companies contributing a significant portion of the total funds received by regional parties. Individual donors also accounted for a sizeable share of contributions.

The report further observed that a large percentage of donations originated from a handful of states, reflecting the concentration of political funding in regions with stronger corporate and industrial presence.

Election transparency advocates have long argued that timely disclosure of political donations is essential for strengthening public trust in the electoral process. ADR has consistently called for greater transparency in political funding and stricter compliance with disclosure norms.

The findings come at a time when political funding remains a key issue in India's electoral landscape, especially following debates over transparency, donor disclosures and reforms in campaign finance.

Political analysts believe the latest figures underline the increasing financial strength of regional parties, many of which play a decisive role in both state politics and national coalition dynamics.