he Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) emerged as the second-highest recipient of political donations in 2023-24, surpassing the Congress in funds received from contributions of Rs. 20,000 and above. According to data released by the Election Commission of India, BRS secured Rs. 580 crore in donations, leaving Congress far behind with Rs. 289 crore.
The BJP, however, remained the top recipient, garnering Rs. 2,244 crore in the same period. Despite this, the BRS’s performance underscores its growing prominence, particularly as a regional party with ambitions of expanding its influence nationally.
A significant contributor to both the BRS and Congress was the Prudent Electoral Trust, which donated Rs. 85 crore to the BRS and Rs. 156 crore to Congress. The disparity in overall donations between the two parties highlights the increasing financial strength of the BRS under its leader, K Chandrashekar Rao.
Congress, on the other hand, witnessed a challenging year in fundraising. Despite being one of the oldest national parties, it fell short of the momentum shown by the BRS in attracting donors, signaling shifting political dynamics in the country.
