In a significant financial surge coinciding with the state assembly polls, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) reported a dramatic 174% increase in its declared donations for the financial year 2024-25. The party, led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, received Rs 33.2 crore, a sharp rise from the Rs 12.1 crore it collected in the previous year.
Corporate Contributions Fuel the Surge
The data, submitted to the Election Commission of India, reveals that corporate donors were the primary force behind this jump. Out of the total Rs 33.2 crore, a substantial Rs 24.4 crore, or 74%, came from corporate entities. This influx of funds arrived amidst the high-stakes November 2024 Jharkhand Assembly elections, where the JMM-led INDIA alliance secured a resounding victory to retain power.
Mining conglomerate Vedanta Limited emerged as the single largest donor, contributing a massive Rs 20 crore to the party's coffers. Other notable corporate contributors included Fagu Jai Mangal Infra, which donated Rs 1.9 crore, and Global Steel Structures Private Ltd, which gave Rs 50 lakh.
Individual Donors and Geographic Spread
Individual contributions accounted for Rs 6.7 crore, or 20% of the total funding. The most significant individual donors were Shiv Kumar Tiwari, who contributed Rs 1.98 crore, and Jai Mangal Singh, who donated Rs 99.7 lakh. The party also received Rs 2 crore from the AB General Electoral Trust.
An analysis of donor locations shows that financial support for the JMM came from across India. Maharashtra provided the largest share of funds, followed by West Bengal. Jharkhand itself ranked third in terms of the origin of donations. Sector-wise, firms from infrastructure and construction contributed more than half of the total corporate donations. Companies in steel, iron manufacturing, mining, and metals—sectors pivotal to Jharkhand's mineral-rich economy—were also significant contributors.
Post-Electoral Bonds Landscape and Party Stance
This financial disclosure is particularly notable as it is the first full year after the Supreme Court quashed the government's electoral bonds scheme. In the 2023-24 financial year, nearly half of the JMM's funding had come through those now-defunct instruments.
When questioned about the substantial rise in donations, JMM leader Vinod Pandey attributed it to "targeted membership drives and active engagement of party workers" throughout the state. He emphasized that despite the growth in corporate donations, especially during the election period, the party's core strategy remains rooted in grassroots support.
"The JMM has continued to rely primarily on the strength and commitment of party workers who form both its capital and power," Pandey told The Indian Express. He added that the party's accounts reflect a model dependent on small contributions and active participation from its base, distinguishing it from national parties with more organized, high-value funding networks.
