Hours after the Election Commission unveiled the electoral bond data, the Congress party raised concerns over a mismatch in the entries of donor and recipient information. Congress leader Amitabh Dubey highlighted that while the donor's file contains 18,871 entries, the recipient's file shows 20,421 entries, sparking questions about transparency and accuracy in the electoral bond scheme.
Dubey, in charge of research and monitoring in the Congress' communication department, took to social media platform X to express his concerns, questioning why there is a discrepancy in the number of entries provided to the Election Commission, particularly since the electoral bond scheme was introduced in 2017. He directed his query to the State Bank of India (SBI), asking for clarification on the matter.
Congress MP and AICC in-charge of Andhra Pradesh, Manickam Tagore, echoed Dubey's sentiments, criticizing the State Bank of India for the alleged mismatch in the electoral bond data. Tagore emphasized the need for transparency in the electoral process and raised doubts about the integrity of the system.
In a post shared on X, Tagore highlighted the discrepancy between the number of entries in the donors' file and recipients' file, suggesting that it may not be a mere coincidence. He called out the State Bank of India for what he perceived as a lack of transparency, accusing them of hiding crucial information in plain sight.
Youth Congress chief Srinivas BV also joined the chorus of criticism, taking a dig at the government's handling of electoral bonds. Srinivas interpreted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's slogan "Na khaunga na khane dunga" (I will neither indulge in corruption nor allow it) as a veiled strategy to coerce companies, orchestrate ED raids, and accumulate donations for the BJP under the guise of legitimate business operations.
The Electoral Commission of India (ECI) uploaded the electoral bond data on its website ahead of the Supreme Court's deadline, shedding light on the top five purchasers who collectively spent over ₹3,446 crore between April 2019 and February 2024. The data revealed a diverse range of contributors, from lottery companies to industrial giants, raising further questions about the transparency and integrity of the electoral bond scheme.