While most of the conversation around electoral bonds has focussed on the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress and the Trinamool Congress, one party from the Northeast, the SKM (Sikkim Krantikari Morcha), has also made its mark in the list.
The amount raised by SKM via electoral bonds is much less than other parties on the list at Rs 36.5 crore, but interestingly the only other regional party from the northeast on this list is SKM’s rival, the Sikkim Democratic Front. The Pawan-Chamling-led SDF, however, managed to raise only Rs 5.5 crore.
A breakdown of the numbers shows that the SKM made the first entry on the list in October 2022, when it encashed Rs 2 crore via electoral bonds. The next entry is from February 2023, when it encashed electoral bonds worth Rs 5.5 crore.
Interestingly, the party raised nearly half of its total electoral bond sales just ten days after Sikkim was hit by the worst flood in the state’s recent history. Data shared by the ECI showed that on October 16 and 17, 2023, even as a large part of the state remained cut off due to the glacial flood, it raised Rs 18 crore in total. Prior to this, the party also raised Rs 7 crore in electoral bonds in July 2023.
The electoral bond data also showed that there are four companies from Assam- Guwahati Carbon, Star Cement Meghalaya Limited, North East Infra Network, Kamlang Saw and Veneer Mills Private Limited who have donated money to the electoral bonds. However, while the data has been released on contributors and receivers, there is no information that connects donations to specific political parties: so, while we know that SKM has received Rs 36.5 crore, we do not know who bought their electoral bonds.
In 2023, Sikkim was struck by a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF), unleashing devastation across its rugged terrain. The deluge cascaded down valleys, carrying with it massive boulders, sediment, and debris. The event unfolded with terrifying speed, overwhelming villages, roads, and infrastructure. Over 200 people died in the flood while several went missing.
Also Read: Four Northeast-based companies that bought electoral bonds