There has also been a significant skew in favour of the ruling party in the issuance of electoral bonds — the BJP received ₹210 crore of the overall ₹221 crore redeemed in financial year 2017-18. The government had stated in the Lok Sabha that in FY 2018, 520 electoral bonds worth ₹222 crore were issued, of which 511, worth ₹221 crore, were redeemed. The BJP received 66.34% of the overall donations above ₹20,000 given to the six national parties, (BJP, INC, NCP, CPI(M), CPI, AITC) in FY 2016-17. Bonds worth ₹210 crore amounted to 21.2% and the rest (35%) was the proportion of small donations (less than ₹20,000 each). In January and March 2019, the SBI sold electoral bonds worth ₹1,716 crore.

Source: The Hindu April 19, 2019 18:44 UTC