Chennai Super Kings and TVS Group Among Top Contributors to AIADMK in Electoral Bonds

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), a prominent political party in Tamil Nadu, received substantial contributions through electoral bonds back in early April 2019, particularly from Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited (CSK) and other key entities, as revealed in recent disclosures.

During the buildup to the Lok Sabha elections in 2019, the AIADMK, which was facing challenges to uphold its political standing, experienced a surge in electoral bond receipts, primarily attributed to the significant contributions from CSK and notable donations from Gopal Srinivasan of TVS Group.

Records indicate that the AIADMK received a total of 38 electoral bonds, with 29 of them coming from CSK and 5 from Gopal Srinivasan of TVS Group, all of which were credited around April 15, 2019. The contributions from CSK, ranging from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 crore for the initial bond, amounted to Rs 3.8 crore out of the total Rs 6.05 crore received by the party in April 2019.

Although the specific issuance dates of the 38 bonds are not detailed, they were predominantly concentrated in the early days of April 2019, aligning with the crucial period leading up to the elections.

Following a tumultuous phase post the demise of their leader J Jayalalithaa in 2016, the AIADMK faced significant electoral setbacks in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the subsequent 2021 Assembly polls. The internal power struggles, including the ousting of V K Sasikala and the subsequent consolidation under the leadership of Edappadi K Palaniswami, marked a challenging period for the party.

Notably, the prominent presence of CSK’s parent company, India Cements Ltd, in AIADMK’s electoral funding is contrasted by its absence in the financial support extended to the DMK, despite the close association of N Srinivasan, the owner of India Cements Ltd, with the DMK faction.