Who is Rajinder Gupta? Billionaire from Punjab who gave 40% donations to AAP before BJP change | Today’s news
Political donations to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) fell by 68% in FY26 compared to the previous year, the party’s contribution report submitted to the Election Commission has revealed.
The party led by Arvind Kejriwal revealed this ₹12.10 crore in contributions for 2025-26. Almost 83 percent of the amount was contributed by Prudent Electoral Trust and Trident Limited, a company founded by former AAP MP Rajinder Gupta.
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Prudent electoral confidence gave ₹5 crore to AAP. He gave the trident ₹Also 5 million. The remaining contributions totaled approx ₹2.10 million crowns.
Prudent Electoral Trust is the richest electoral trust in the country. About 90 percent of corporate donations to political parties come through the Trust, which was formerly known as Satya Electoral Trust.
Gupta was elected to the Rajya Sabha on an AAP ticket in October 2025.
Trident ₹5 million check was dated January 9, 2026, when Gupta was with the party led by Arvind Kejriwal. Thus, Gupta contributed 40% of AAP’s donations last year. However, Gupta joined the BJP along with six other MPs in April this year.(ECI)
Trident ₹5 million check was dated January 9, 2026, when Gupta was with the party led by Arvind Kejriwal. Thus, Gupta contributed 40% of AAP’s donations last year. However, Gupta joined the BJP along with six other MPs in April this year.
Who is Rajinder Gupta?
The party led by Arvind Kejriwal installed Gupta on the vacant seat in the upper house in October 2025. The bypoll was held to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of AAP.Sanjeev Arorawho descended fromUpper House after his election to the regional assembly.
Gupta’s declared wealth, according to the election manifesto, is more than the combined wealth of veterans of Punjab politics such as Sukhbir Singh Badal, Bikram Majithia and Captain Amarinder Singh.
Gupta, 66, is among the richest men in Punjab. His net worth in 2025 (Forbes list) is $1.2 billion which is approx ₹10,000 million crowns.
Gupta, 66, is among the richest men in Punjab. His net worth in 2025 (Forbes list) is $1.2 billion which is approx ₹10,000 million crowns.
Gupta was born in Bathinda to cotton merchant Nohar Chand. Coming from humble beginnings, Gupta rose to prominence in politics by serving in key government positions in several administrations.
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Founder Trident Limitedwhich is the flagship of the Trident Group, Gupta is a first-generation entrepreneur. In 2007, the then President APJ Abdul Kalam awarded him the Padma Shri in recognition of his outstanding services in the field of commerce and industry.
In 2022, Gupta stepped down as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the Trident Group due to health reasons and is currently the Chairman Emeritus of the Group.
Ludhiana-based Trident Group
Ludhiana-based Trident Group is a diversified textile, paper and chemicals conglomerate with manufacturing facilities in Punjab and Madhya Pradesh.
Gupta previously held positions in the previous Congress and SAD-BJP governments also. Gupta served as the Deputy Chairman of the Punjab State Planning Board between 2012 and 2022 under the Congress (2012–2017) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP (2017–2022) governments.
AAP donations on 24-25 and 23-24
This was revealed by the AAP agency ₹38.10 crore in contributions in 2024-25, more than three times ₹In 2023-24, it reported 11.06 million crowns. Prudent was its largest donor in 2024–25 when it gave ₹16.40 million crowns.
The latest filing covers the first full financial year since the AAP lost power to Delhi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in February 2025. The party remains in power in Punjab, home to Trident. Parliamentary elections are scheduled in Punjab next year.
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Gupta’s declared wealth is more than the combined wealth of veteran Punjabi politicians like Sukhbir Singh Badal and Captain Amarinder Singh.
According to election rules in India, parties must identify donors whose contributions are in excess ₹20,000 during the financial year. These contribution reports do not include the party’s full annual income, which is reported separately in the audited financial statements.
