In a significant revelation about political funding in Tamil Nadu, a Kolkata-based lottery company has emerged as the single largest donor to the state's two major Dravidian parties in the financial year 2024-25. Data submitted to the Election Commission of India shows that Tiger Associates made substantial contributions to both the DMK and the AIADMK, despite having no business operations within the state.
Massive Donations from a Distant Lottery Firm
According to the declared details, Tiger Associates donated a whopping Rs 50 crore to the ruling DMK and an even larger sum of Rs 60 crore to the principal opposition AIADMK. For the AIADMK, this single contribution constituted a staggering 90% of its total declared donations for the entire year. The data highlights the outsized role a single corporate entity can play in financing a major political party's operations.
Corporate Affairs Ministry records reveal that Subbayan Nagarajan, identified as a close associate of well-known lottery baron Santiago Martin, is the designated partner of Tiger Associates. This connection has raised eyebrows, given the historical context of lottery-linked political donations in the state.
Party Responses and Historical Context of Funding
When questioned about the donations, the reactions from the two parties differed. AIADMK spokesperson D Jayakumar stated that he was not aware of the donations received from the lottery firm. On the other hand, DMK organising secretary RS Bharathi acknowledged the contribution, suggesting it may have been made on the basis of goodwill. He was quick to add, "But, DMK will never allow lottery in Tamil Nadu."
This is not the first instance of Santiago Martin's enterprises funding the DMK. Data shows that between April 2019 and March 2024, Martin's Future Gaming and Hotel Services donated approximately Rs 509 crore to the DMK through now-scrapped electoral bonds. This amount accounted for about 77% of the party's total electoral bond receipts during that period.
However, DMK leaders have consistently defended their funding model, emphasizing grassroots support. RS Bharathi argued that the party's funds largely come from small contributions by its cadres. Election Commission data supports that, of the total Rs 365 crore received by the DMK from April 2019 to March 2024, around Rs 299.8 crore was raised through smaller donations. These funds were collected via donation tickets priced under Rs 2,000 by district-level functionaries across Tamil Nadu.
Broader Political Funding Landscape and Scrutiny
The data also brought other donors to light. The Mumbai-based Progressive Electoral Trust donated Rs 10 crore to the DMK in April 2024. Electoral trusts, introduced by the UPA government in 2013, mandate the disclosure of donor details to the ECI, unlike the anonymous electoral bond scheme which was struck down by the Supreme Court in February 2024.
The pattern of funding has attracted criticism from political rivals. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President K Selvaperunthagai alleged that the BJP has used its central government position to grant concessions to corporate entities over the past 11 years, receiving donations in return. He stated that such funding patterns raise serious questions about the relationship between political power and corporate contributions.
As the details of political donations become more transparent following the end of the electoral bond era, the substantial contributions from entities like Tiger Associates to major regional parties are likely to fuel further debate on the need for cleaner and more accountable political funding in India.
