In a significant development ahead of an election-heavy political calendar, Bihar’s major regional parties have witnessed a sharp surge in political donations, with Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) registering a dramatic rise that has drawn considerable attention. While Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) received a substantially higher absolute amount, the rate of growth in funding for Chirag Paswan’s party far exceeded that of the JD(U), underscoring changing dynamics within the ruling NDA alliance.
According to contribution reports submitted to the Election Commission of India for the financial year 2024–25, JD(U) received a total of ₹18.69 crore, while LJP (Ram Vilas) secured over ₹11 crore during the same period. Both parties are key allies of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, which returned to power with a massive mandate in the November 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.
Massive Jump in JD(U) Funding
The JD(U) recorded a staggering 932 percent increase in donations compared to the previous financial year. In 2023–24, the party had received just ₹1.81 crore, which jumped to ₹18.69 crore in 2024–25. Party leaders acknowledged the sharp rise but pointed out that, despite the increase, JD(U)’s total donations remain modest when compared to national parties.
JD(U) received contributions from 66 donor entities, with a significant share coming from electoral trusts. The Progressive Electoral Trust alone contributed ₹10 crore, followed by ₹5 crore from the Prudent Electoral Trust and ₹2 crore from Samaj Electoral Trust Association.
Corporate donations also featured prominently. Contributions included ₹10 lakh each from Urmila International Services Pvt Ltd and Sona Biscuits Ltd, ₹5 lakh from Nataraj Iron and Industries, and ₹15 lakh from Kolkata-based Anmol Industries Ltd.
Individual Donors and Party Leaders Contribute
Private individuals were also among the contributors. Bengaluru-based Akash Agrawal donated ₹10 lakh, while Patna’s Sanjay Kumar Sinha contributed ₹4.5 lakh. Several senior party leaders, MPs, and MLAs—including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh—also made personal contributions to the party fund.
Chirag Paswan’s Party Sees Explosive Growth
The most striking growth, however, was recorded by LJP (Ram Vilas). The party’s donations skyrocketed from a modest ₹11.67 lakh in 2023–24 to ₹11.09 crore in 2024–25, marking an astonishing 9,403 percent increase in just one year.
As per the party’s contribution report, the bulk of the funds came from electoral trusts—₹10 crore from the Progressive Electoral Trust and ₹1 crore from the Prudent Electoral Trust. Additionally, SRR Projects Pvt Ltd donated ₹5 lakh.
Party leaders downplayed the figures, stating that ₹11 crore is not an exceptionally large amount for a national party, but political analysts see the surge as a reflection of Chirag Paswan’s growing influence within the NDA and his increasing relevance in Bihar’s electoral landscape.
Post–Electoral Bond Era Shifts
These figures assume added significance as they represent the first full-year funding data after the Supreme Court scrapped the electoral bonds scheme. In the post-bond era, political donations through corporate electoral trusts have tripled, touching ₹3,811 crore nationwide.
Meanwhile, national trends show contrasting patterns—the BJP’s total donations rose by over 50 percent to ₹6,088 crore, while Congress funding declined sharply to ₹522 crore in 2024–25.
As Bihar’s politics continues to evolve, the sharp rise in funding—especially for Chirag Paswan’s party—signals shifting power equations and growing donor confidence, setting the stage for intensified political competition in the years ahead.
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