New Delhi, Jan 18: Among the 16 regional parties of the country, Maharashtra based Shiv Sena received maximum donation that exceeds Rs 20,000 in the year 2015-16, whereas Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) remained on the second spot. National Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms released details of donations received by regional parties in the country. Also Read - Monsoon Session: Finance Minister Diluting GST Compensation Issue With ‘Act of God’ Excuse, Says DMK MP in Lok Sabha | Highlights

The regional parties declared receiving Rs 107.62 crore in total as donations exceeding Rs 20,000 for the year 2015-16. Out of the entire donations received by them, about 85 per cent (Rs 90.89 crore) has been donated by corporates and business houses and the rest by individuals. Also Read - Nobody Cured of Covid-19 Due to 'Bhabhiji Papad': Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut Takes a Dig at Govt in Rajya Sabha

The report consists of donations received by 16 regional parties in the year 2015-16. Among the 16 regional parties, Shiv Sena has topped the list and in the year 2015-16, the party received donations from 143 donors and the total amount collected through donations is Rs 86.84 crores. However, in the total donation of Rs 86.84 crores received by Shiv Sena, Videocon Industries Private Limited has donated Rs 85 crore (98 per cent of the total donation received by the party). Also Read - Kangana Ranaut Says She Felt 'Raped' at The Hands of BMC And Shiv Sena Because of Emotional Trauma Caused to Her

The second highest donation has been declared by Aam Aadmi Party. AAP declared total donation of Rs 6.6 crore. The party received a total of 1187 donations exceeding Rs 20,000. Telugu Desam Party declared a total of Rs 3.10 crore received as donation above Rs 20,000.

The Election Commission of India in 2014 ended the tax exemption to cash donations received by political parties in the country. According to ECI (Sec 29C, sub-section 3) donations below Rs 20,000 received by political parties are not required to be reported to the Election Commission. However, political parties will have to disclose details of those donating above Rs 20,000.

The 16 regional political parties included in the National Election Watch reports are Shiv Sena, AAP, AIADMK, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Janata Dal (S), Janata Dal (U), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

Among these regional parties, AIADMK, BJD, JMM and RLD have declared to the Election Commission that they did not receive any donation that exceeds Rs 20,000.