YSRCP received third highest donations among regional parties, says ADR report

VIJAYAWADA: Main opposition YSRCP figures among the top five regional parties with highest donations received during the year 2017-18. The donations do not include individual payments below Rs 20,000. Only donations above Rs 20,000 are declared to the Election Commission.
A statement released by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) on Tuesday said YSRCP had declared that it had received Rs 8.35 crore during 2017-18. This is the third highest among all regional parties across the country.
The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) stood fifth with Rs 3.307 crore and the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) stood seventh with a declared total donations of Rs 1.737 crore.
The total amount of donations declared by regional parties all over the country, including both above and below Rs 20,000, was Rs 54.81 crore from 2824 donations.
“With regard to the total amount of donations, BJD leads with Rs 13.04 crore from six donations followed by JDU, which has declared receiving Rs 11.19 crore from 27 donations, and YSRCP declared receiving Rs 8.35 crore that is the third highest amongst all regional parties,” the ADR said.
It said 59.44% or Rs 32.58 cr of the total donations received by Regional Parties have been received solely by top three regional parties.
YSRCP TRS, JDU and DMDK saw the maximum percentage increase in their income from donations between2016-17 and 2017-18.
Donations to YSRCP increased by 95%, followed by DMDK for which it was 93%, and TRS for which it was 90%.
The ADR suggested that parties not adhering to the deadline fixed by the Election Commission of India should be penalized by making them liable to pay tax on 100% of their income from various sources.