Maharashtra Assembly Elections: Thackeray Sena allowed to accept donations

The Election Commission of India has allowed Shiv Sena (UBT) to accept any amount of contribution voluntarily offered to it by any person or company other than a government company.

The Sena had requested the ECI early this month to issue a communication/certificate recording the purpose of being able to accept voluntary contributions. The interim approval came on Thursday. On July 8, the commission had issued a similar order for the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar). In the case of Sena, the order came within days, while it took NCP over three months to get it.

The ECI has authorised Sena (UBT) on an interim basis to accept donations. "This authorisation is during the currency of and contingent upon the final order of the Supreme Court in Case no. SLP (C) 3997 of 2023," the order said, adding that the party will have to submit to the commission a report of contribution received in excess of Rs 20,000 in a financial year.