The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has witnessed a significant decline in political donations after losing power in Odisha last year, according to affidavits submitted to the Election Commission of India. The disclosures highlight the financial challenges faced by the party following its exit from government after more than two decades in office.
Election-Time Donations Sustain BJD in 2024–25
As per the filings, the BJD received ₹60 crore in donations during the 2024–25 financial year, all of which came during the April–May election period. The entire amount was contributed by four private institutions.
Notably, no donations exceeding ₹20,000 were recorded after the elections, underscoring a sharp fall in financial support once the party moved to the opposition benches.
Income Driven by Interest, Not Contributions
Despite the drop in donations, the party reported a total income of over ₹110 crore for the year. A substantial portion of this income came not from donations but from interest earned on bank deposits.
According to the affidavits, the BJD currently holds assets worth more than ₹720 crore, accumulated during its long tenure in power. Observers note that the party is now increasingly dependent on interest income to fund its organisational and political activities.
BJP Continues to Receive Contributions from Leaders
In contrast, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), now the ruling party in Odisha, continues to receive regular contributions from its elected representatives and leaders.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, deputy chief ministers, and other state ministers reportedly donated up to ₹5 lakh each. Members of Parliament contributed amounts ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹2 lakh, while some Union ministers also made donations of ₹5 lakh.
National-Level Funding and Post-Bond Transparency
At the national level, the BJP received donations amounting to several crores of rupees. This comes in the wake of a Supreme Court verdict declaring electoral bonds unconstitutional, a move that has significantly increased transparency in political funding by mandating annual public disclosures.
A Familiar Opposition Predicament
Political analysts see the BJD’s financial slowdown as a typical challenge faced by parties after losing power. Donors, they argue, generally prefer to back parties in government due to greater access and influence.
After ruling Odisha for over two decades, the BJD’s transition to the opposition has not only altered the state’s political landscape but also reshaped the party’s financial ecosystem, forcing it to rely more on past reserves than present-day contributions.