‘Quid pro quo’: How Indian firms fund parties whose governments help them

Al JazeeraEN 8 min read 100% complete by Rejimon KuttappanFebruary 18, 2026 at 09:09 AM

AI Summary

long article 8 min

Following India's Supreme Court ban on anonymous electoral bonds in 2024, which had channeled nearly $2 billion to political parties between 2018 and 2024, corporations are now using electoral trusts to donate funds. These trusts, while requiring donor disclosure, still facilitate large contributions to parties, particularly the ruling BJP, raising concerns about quid pro quo arrangements. In 2024-25, nine electoral trusts donated $459.2 million to political parties, with the BJP receiving 83% of that amount ($378.6 million). This trend suggests that despite increased transparency measures, significant financial influence from big business on political parties persists in India. The funds are often donated when the companies are in trouble, or need projects approved.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Gujarat ×240% Tata Sons 50% India ×460% Narendra Modi ×270% Bharatiya Janata Party ×380%

Keywords

electoral bonds 100% political donations 90% quid pro quo 80% political funding 70% electoral trusts 60% transparency 60% narendra modi 50% supreme court 50% bjp 50%