Serum Institute of India among Nationalist Congress Party’s top funders

NEW DELHI: The Sharad Pawar led Nationalist Congress Party cobbled together Rs 59.9 crore in 2019-20, the Lok Sabha election year, and among its biggest of donors is the world’s largest of vaccine makers-- Serum Institute of India.

SII is in news currently as it is at the forefront of India’s vaccine development against COVID 19. Oxford-AstraZeneca’s vaccine is being manufactured by SII in India as Covishield.

As per NCP's contribution report of 2019-20 filed with the Election Commission of India, Serum Institute donated Rs 3 crore to the Pawar led party in a single transaction dated October 14, 2019.


The Pune based biotechnology firm aside, NCP has reported the biggest funding from B G Shirke Construction group at Rs 20 crore. The Panchshil Corporate Bank is next on the tally bringing in Rs 7.5 crores. Political rivals have often alleged proximity of the two corporate groups to the NCP leadership.

Infrastructure firms Lodha developers and Modern Road makers have pitched in Rs 5 crore each. Member of Parliament Supriya Sule has sent in about Rs 7 lakh in several tranches.

Like most other regional political parties, NCP has not reported electoral bond based funding but gone with electoral trusts instead. The Harmony Electoral Trust has added Rs 1.5 crore to the NCP kitty.

At the other end of the spectrum is Mayawati led Bahujan Samaj party (BSP) which has once again- and year after year- reported zero funds collected in 2019-20.

ET first reported how among regional parties, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam stood out with 95% of its funding Rs 45.5 crore of Rs 48.3 crore- raised from electoral bonds.

The Indian Union Muslim League in Kerala raised Rs 92.4 crore --- the highest among regional parties.