VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html 29 states vs Meta: How a landmark child safety trial could reshape Facebook and Instagram Maharashtra NEET MDS 2026 CAP registration begins; check round 1 dates and list of required documents ‘Vishwanath And Sons’ box office collection day 9 [Live]: Suriya and Mamitha Baiju’s film nears another milestone in India Why your home never feels completely clean, even after you clean it 24 billion tonnes of groundwater are being lost every year across Asia’s high mountains; why the water crisis is far bigger than melting glaciers ‘Great candidate’: JD Vance backs ‘friend’ Vivek Ramaswamy for Ohio governor Quote of the day by Socrates: “The difficulty, my friends, is not in avoiding death, but in avoiding unrighteousness” | World News BJP launches Gen Z outreach push, names Nitin Nabin, Smriti Irani, Vinod Tawde to key team NEW DELHI: With political parties stepping up efforts to connect with the country’s young voters, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has formed a dedicated team to lead its proposed Gen Z outreach programme.The team includes BJP national president Nitin Nabin, national general secretaries Smriti Irani and Vinod Tawde, Gujarat minister Harsh Sanghavi, among other leaders, according to a top party source, quoted by news agency ANI.News agency ANI reported, “BJP national president Nitin Nabin, national general secretaries Smriti Irani and Vinod Tawde, Gujarat minister Harsh Sanghavi, Chhattisgarh minister OP Choudhary, along with several other leaders, have been included in the team constituted for the outreach initiative.”The party is expected to begin the programme soon, with the initiative likely to focus on the aspirations, concerns and expectations of Gen Z and provide young people an opportunity to interact with BJP leaders.The BJP’s Gen Z outreach comes as the opposition steps up its engagement with younger voters. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to hold the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme in Pune on Saturday, following similar events in Kota, Dehradun and Prayagraj.The programme, to be held at AISSMS College Ground, is expected to focus on concerns including paper leaks, examination irregularities and rising education fees. It will also focus on young women and issues affecting them. Organisers are expecting between 8,000 and 10,000 attendees, with the event scheduled from 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm.The BJP has attacked Rahul Gandhi’s Pune programme, with party spokesperson Navnath Ban dubbing it “Paise Ki Goonj” and alleging that the Congress paid social media influencers to mobilise crowds.Ban alleged that influencers were offered up to Rs 35,000 to promote the programme and claimed the Congress could have spent nearly Rs 10 crore on mobilising attendance. The Congress has rejected the allegations.The BJP’s Gen Z initiative is expected to involve interactions, discussions and other engagement activities aimed at understanding the concerns of young voters. Further details on its schedule, format and locations are likely to be announced soon.Earlier on Saturday, BJP national president Nitin Nabin chaired the first introductory meeting of the party’s newly constituted national team.The meeting formally marked the beginning of the new team of BJP office-bearers. All six stanzas of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ were recited ahead of the meeting.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesIn the newly announced national team, Vinod Tawde and Sunil Bansal will continue as national general secretaries. Biplab Kumar Deb, Smriti Irani, Satish Poonia, Gajendra Patel, Harish Dwivedi and Sanjay Bhatia have joined as newly inducted national general secretaries.Union minister Piyush Goyal has been given additional responsibility in the party organisation and appointed national treasurer, while Rajesh Mangal from Rajasthan has been appointed national joint treasurer.The Gen Z outreach team will now prepare for the BJP’s proposed engagement programme, with the party expected to announce details of the initiative in the coming days.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorSubhadra SrivastavaSubhadra Srivastava is a journalist with The Times of India, covering geopolitics, international and national affairs. With over three years of experience, she focuses on national and global developments, conflict, diplomacy and their impact on India. Her work combines breaking news with in-depth analysis, offering readers context and clarity on the stories shaping the world.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosH1N1 Cases Rise In Delhi: Health Minister Nadda Holds Meet, Reviews Swine Flu Situation‘Proportionate Response’: MEA Explains Bulldozer Action Outside Pakistan High Commission In Delhi4-Year-Old Viral Sensation Karga Tinkle EXCLUSIVE | “Don’t Call Me Chinese, I Am Indian”‘Making Provocative Remarks Against India For Years’: MEA Slams US Body Over RSS Sanctions CallRevanth Reddy’s US Trip Cancelled After MEA Denies Clearance, Telangana Delegation Goes AheadPellet-gun Row: Rahul Gandhi At Parliament Street Police Station To Lodge Complaint With DCP‘Don’t Politicise Our School’: Villagers Block CJP Visit As Party Alleges BJP Attack In RajasthanModi Pushes AI, Youth And Data Agenda, Tells Secretaries To Break Government Silos And InnovatePirates Hijack Two Ships Carrying 22 Indians Off Yemen And Somalia, Crew Safety Raises Concern‘NEET, Delimitation, Cauvery, Drugs’: Vijay’s Key Requests Before Amit Shah At Tamil Nadu Meeting123PhotostoriesMen with heart disease may face a higher cancer risk, study suggests: 7 simple ways to keep your heart healthy and happy10 bizarre luxury fashion trends that stunned the internet: From Margaret Qualley’s ‘barefoot’ Chanel shoes to Balenciaga’s trash bags5 bizarre foods created specifically for extreme environmentsThe psychology of being genuinely charming: Why making people feel seen and heard matters more than confidenceTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: From Dilip Joshi, Amit Bhatt to Munmun Dutta, here’s how much popular actors earn per episode10 baby boy names inspired by wisdom, knowledge and intelligenceOptical Illusion personality test: What you spot first reveals your secret dominant traitH1N1 is rising again: Doctors explain why swine flu cases are increasing and how to stay protectedWorking out in extreme heat? How dehydration can reduce kidney function and raise the risk of acute kidney injuryRoad to longevity: 7 simple habits that may help ‘super-agers’ stay healthy beyond 100123Hot PicksTCS laptop monitoring softwareTNEA counselling3 year practice ruleCM Revanth ReddyWeather tomorrowNEET UG 2026US-Canada tradeSIM card rulesBank holiday todayTop TrendingMumbai Rape AirhostessReservation Hatao AndolanLucknow Double Murder SuicideMadhapur Road AccidentMaharashtra Hill TragedyAbhijeet DipkeJharkhand Factory FireRahul GandhiBengaluru RapidoAston Martin Crash ‘Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hasn’t played as much red-ball cricket’: Rahul Dravid’s blunt assessment of Test prospects All about ‘Bhojpuri Bawaal’ star Pawan Singh’s home in Bihar: From carved jharokas to display setups for trophies Sri Lankan cricket legend Kumar Sangakkara spent years restoring a historic villa built more than 100 years ago, blending old-world architecture with modern design; the heritage property is now ready for a new chapter Swedish defence giant Saab unveils stealthy supersonic fighter drone to fly with Gripen E Logan Paul bought a remote 78-acre California ranch for about $1 million in 2019; seven years later, the property with an extraordinary past is asking nearly $3 million UPSC EPFO APFC Recruitment 2026 notification released for 80 posts; registration begins at upsconline.nic.in Ramayana’s Bhojpuri trailer takes internet by storm, fans demand official release: ‘Waiting for Ravi Kishan’s voice’ – Watch Who are Erik Slavin, Lara Korte? Stars and Stripes editor, reporter fired by Pentagon for ‘insubordination’ | From border watch to deep strikes: Army raises first Baaz drone battalion Gurpreet Kaur has demanded a response within 24 hours of its receipt NEW DELHI: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s wife, Gurpreet Kaur, on Saturday sent a legal notice to former Punjab and Haryana high court judge Ranjit Singh over his allegations that she attempted to suppress a rape case and sought Rs 5 crore in exchange for doing so.According to an official communication from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Ranjit Singh, brother-in-law of Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira, has been asked to respond to the legal notice within 24 hours of receiving it. The notice warned that failure to respond within the stipulated deadline would invite legal proceedings and require Singh to appear before a court.Gurpreet Kaur’s move came after the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took cognisance of the matter and directed the Punjab chief secretary and director general of police to inquire into the allegations.Earlier, NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo said the commission had received the complaint from Justice Ranjit Singh (retd).“We have received a complaint from former Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Ranjit Singh alleging that the wife of Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann attempted to hush up a rape case in exchange for a bribe of Rs 5 crore. It is a matter of concern when such an allegation is levelled against a person holding a top position in a state regarding a case involving the safety of women and children,” Kanoongo told ANI.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesHe further noted that the NHRC had sought a report from the state administration.“We have directed the chief secretary and the DGP of Punjab to investigate the matter and submit a report to us. We have also informed the Women’s Safety Division of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. We will be able to proceed with further investigation only after receiving the report,” Kanoongo added.He also warned officials against acting under “political pressure”, cautioning that action could be taken against them if they succumbed to such pressure.The NHRC has given Punjab 15 days to submit an Action Taken Report and will decide on further action based on the report.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. He also writes explainers to make these stories easier for readers to follow.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosH1N1 Cases Rise In Delhi: Health Minister Nadda Holds Meet, Reviews Swine Flu Situation‘Proportionate Response’: MEA Explains Bulldozer Action Outside Pakistan High Commission In Delhi4-Year-Old Viral Sensation Karga Tinkle EXCLUSIVE | “Don’t Call Me Chinese, I Am Indian”‘Making Provocative Remarks Against India For Years’: MEA Slams US Body Over RSS Sanctions CallRevanth Reddy’s US Trip Cancelled After MEA Denies Clearance, Telangana Delegation Goes AheadPellet-gun Row: Rahul Gandhi At Parliament Street Police Station To Lodge Complaint With DCP‘Don’t Politicise Our School’: Villagers Block CJP Visit As Party Alleges BJP Attack In RajasthanModi Pushes AI, Youth And Data Agenda, Tells Secretaries To Break Government Silos And InnovatePirates Hijack Two Ships Carrying 22 Indians Off Yemen And Somalia, Crew Safety Raises Concern‘NEET, Delimitation, Cauvery, Drugs’: Vijay’s Key Requests Before Amit Shah At Tamil Nadu Meeting123Photostories10 bizarre luxury fashion trends that stunned the internet: From Margaret Qualley’s ‘barefoot’ Chanel shoes to Balenciaga’s trash bags5 bizarre foods created specifically for extreme environmentsThe psychology of being genuinely charming: Why making people feel seen and heard matters more than confidenceTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: From Dilip Joshi, Amit Bhatt to Munmun Dutta, here’s how much popular actors earn per episode10 baby boy names inspired by wisdom, knowledge and intelligenceOptical Illusion personality test: What you spot first reveals your secret dominant traitH1N1 is rising again: Doctors explain why swine flu cases are increasing and how to stay protectedWorking out in extreme heat? 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All about the Massachusetts mother at the centre of a shocking murder trial 31-year-old Adobe techie beaten to death by wife’s family in Delhi Rajkumar Santoshi REACTS to ‘Dhurandhar’ comparisons with ‘Batwara 1947’; says his alpha male comes from a different school of action Why Canada suspended US trade talks at last minute despite Trump’s ‘good relationship’ with Carney In a communication to technical institutions and admission authorities, AICTE said the graduates could be considered only for “relevant and closely aligned” disciplines (Representative image) NEW DELHI: Four-year BSc (honours or honours with research) graduates may now seek admission to select ME and MTech programmes, with AICTE opening a new bridge from undergraduate science to postgraduate engineering. The move has, however, prompted calls for GATE-based admissions and limits on institutions allowed to use the route to prevent dilution of MTech standards and protect enrolment in MSc courses.In a communication to technical institutions and admission authorities, AICTE said the graduates could be considered only for “relevant and closely aligned” disciplines or specialisations in which MSc degree-holders are already eligible. It is, therefore, not a blanket opening for every BSc graduate or every MTech programme. Three-year BSc degree-holders are not covered.The decision follows the UGC’s Minimum Standards of Instruction Regulations, 2025, notified on March 26 last year, which sought to enable greater academic mobility under NEP 2020. The regulations recognise a four-year undergraduate honours or honours-with-research degree carrying 160 credits and allow graduates in relevant subjects, including physics, biology and mathematics, to enter two-year ME or MTech programmes.Until now, BE and BTech degrees have been the principal route to postgraduate engineering. MSc graduates are also admitted to select programmes in areas such as computer science, biotechnology, mathematics and applied sciences. AICTE’s decision extends that limited pathway to four-year BSc graduates without requiring them to first complete an MSc.S Vaidhyasubramaniam, vice-chancellor of SASTRA University, Thanjavur, called for tighter guardrails. “To balance PG degree enrolment in technology and science, this new policy should be implemented only in top 100 NIRF universities or top 50 engineering institutions, and admissions shall be through GATE scores only,” he said.The director of a govt engineering college, who did not wish to be named, said: “Everything is now happening under the NEP 2020 canvas and not all are correct. AICTE should also ensure that this new policy is not misused by private universities for whom AICTE approval is not necessary.”Under the framework, institutions may set minimum marks or CGPA, demand GATE or another entrance-test score, assess domain knowledge and prescribe prerequisite or bridge courses. Candidates must possess the subjects or credits required for the MTech specialisation concerned.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesAICTE said that academic standards must not be diluted and said the new provision would “supplement and shall not replace” the existing BE/BTech pathway. Admissions must remain within the approved intake and comply with reservation policies and other statutory requirements.The council will separately publish a discipline-wise mapping linking eligible four-year BSc courses to corresponding ME and MTech programmes. The mapping will determine the actual scale and reach of the change. It has asked institutions, universities and state and UT admission authorities to incorporate the provision in admission notifications and prospectuses.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorManash Pratim GohainManash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosH1N1 Cases Rise In Delhi: Health Minister Nadda Holds Meet, Reviews Swine Flu Situation‘Proportionate Response’: MEA Explains Bulldozer Action Outside Pakistan High Commission In Delhi4-Year-Old Viral Sensation Karga Tinkle EXCLUSIVE | “Don’t Call Me Chinese, I Am Indian”‘Making Provocative Remarks Against India For Years’: MEA Slams US Body Over RSS Sanctions CallRevanth Reddy’s US Trip Cancelled After MEA Denies Clearance, Telangana Delegation Goes AheadPellet-gun Row: Rahul Gandhi At Parliament Street Police Station To Lodge Complaint With DCP‘Don’t Politicise Our School’: Villagers Block CJP Visit As Party Alleges BJP Attack In RajasthanModi Pushes AI, Youth And Data Agenda, Tells Secretaries To Break Government Silos And InnovatePirates Hijack Two Ships Carrying 22 Indians Off Yemen And Somalia, Crew Safety Raises Concern‘NEET, Delimitation, Cauvery, Drugs’: Vijay’s Key Requests Before Amit Shah At Tamil Nadu Meeting123PhotostoriesThe psychology of being genuinely charming: Why making people feel seen and heard matters more than confidenceTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: From Dilip Joshi, Amit Bhatt to Munmun Dutta, here’s how much popular actors earn per episode10 baby boy names inspired by wisdom, knowledge and intelligenceOptical Illusion personality test: What you spot first reveals your secret dominant traitH1N1 is rising again: Doctors explain why swine flu cases are increasing and how to stay protectedWorking out in extreme heat? 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Officials should exercise the powers granted to them by the Constitution for the welfare of the people. If they act under any kind of political pressure, action can be taken against them,” he added.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThis comes days after the NHRC, on August 19, took cognisance of a complaint concerning the alleged non-observance of Independence Day in government schools across Punjab and sought a detailed report from the Mann-led state government.The complaint raised specific concerns about government schools in rural, remote and border areas, where Independence Day celebrations were allegedly not held. This, the complaint argued, may have deprived students of an opportunity to participate in national celebrations.In this matter, the Punjab chief secretary has been directed to submit a detailed Action Taken/Compliance Report within four weeks. The commission has also sought relevant information from the Ministry of Education and apprised the Union home ministry for appropriate action.The NHRC is seeking to determine whether children in border areas were denied equal opportunities to participate in the observance of the national festival solely because of the geographical location of their schools.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. He also writes explainers to make these stories easier for readers to follow.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosH1N1 Cases Rise In Delhi: Health Minister Nadda Holds Meet, Reviews Swine Flu Situation‘Proportionate Response’: MEA Explains Bulldozer Action Outside Pakistan High Commission In Delhi4-Year-Old Viral Sensation Karga Tinkle EXCLUSIVE | “Don’t Call Me Chinese, I Am Indian”‘Making Provocative Remarks Against India For Years’: MEA Slams US Body Over RSS Sanctions CallRevanth Reddy’s US Trip Cancelled After MEA Denies Clearance, Telangana Delegation Goes AheadPellet-gun Row: Rahul Gandhi At Parliament Street Police Station To Lodge Complaint With DCP‘Don’t Politicise Our School’: Villagers Block CJP Visit As Party Alleges BJP Attack In RajasthanModi Pushes AI, Youth And Data Agenda, Tells Secretaries To Break Government Silos And InnovatePirates Hijack Two Ships Carrying 22 Indians Off Yemen And Somalia, Crew Safety Raises Concern‘NEET, Delimitation, Cauvery, Drugs’: Vijay’s Key Requests Before Amit Shah At Tamil Nadu Meeting123PhotostoriesThe psychology of being genuinely charming: Why making people feel seen and heard matters more than confidenceTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: From Dilip Joshi, Amit Bhatt to Munmun Dutta, here’s how much popular actors earn per episode10 baby boy names inspired by wisdom, knowledge and intelligenceOptical Illusion personality test: What you spot first reveals your secret dominant traitH1N1 is rising again: Doctors explain why swine flu cases are increasing and how to stay protectedWorking out in extreme heat? 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BJP, which had won clear majorities in 2014 and 2019, finished with 240 seats, 32 short of the halfway mark. Narendra Modi needed the support of NDA partners to form a government for a third term.When it came to political donations, however, BJP was the clear leader. India’s national parties declared ₹6,648.56 crore from 11,343 contributions above ₹20,000 in FY2024-25, according to an analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms, or ADR. That was an increase of ₹4,104.29 crore, or 161%, over the previous financial year.BJP declared ₹6,074.02 crore from 5,522 contributions, up 171% from ₹2,243.95 crore a year earlier. Congress reported ₹517.39 crore from 2,501 contributions, an increase of 84% from ₹281.48 crore. AAP declared ₹38.11 crore, CPI(M) ₹16.96 crore and the National People’s Party ₹2.09 crore. BSP said it had received no donations above ₹20,000.Together, BJP and Congress accounted for 99.14% of the money declared by the six national parties covered by ADR. But buried inside that torrent of money was a curious crossover episode.A TOI examination of the signed FY2024-25 contribution reports submitted by BJP and Congress to the Election Commission has identified at least 19 direct donors whose Permanent Account Numbers, or PANs, appear in both filings.Together, these donors gave at least ₹258.73 crore to the two parties.The money was not divided evenly. BJP received ₹206.64 crore, or 79.87%, while Congress received ₹52.09 crore, or 20.13%. In simpler terms, of every ₹5 contributed by these common donors, roughly ₹4 went to BJP. However, the 19 donors accounted for only about 3.4% of BJP’s total declared contributions, while the corresponding figure for Congress was 10.1%.Business money dominatesADR classified ₹6,128.79 crore, or 92.18% of the contributions received by national parties, as coming from corporate or business sectors. Such contributions formed 94.13% of BJP’s declared total and 74.19% of Congress’s.The classification is broader than incorporated companies. It covers the corporate and business categories created by ADR from descriptions in the party filings. The biggest channel for political money was electoral trusts.ADR found that four trusts, Prudent, Progressive, AB General and New Democratic, gave national parties a combined ₹4,024.43 crore, equivalent to 60.53% of the contributions covered by its report. Prudent Electoral Trust alone gave ₹2,180.71 crore to BJP, ₹216.34 crore to Congress and ₹16.42 crore to AAP.These trust flows have been excluded from TOI’s common-donor calculation. An electoral trust pools contributions before distributing money to parties. Unless the records explicitly establish the link, a company contributing to a multi-donor trust cannot be described as having directly funded a particular party.This analysis therefore deals only with donors appearing directly in party contribution reports.How the number was talliedTOI counted a donor as common primarily when the same PAN appeared in both filings, with the name and address used as additional checks. Where the name and PAN did not line up clearly, the amount was left out. Similar company names, group relationships or common addresses were not considered sufficient.ADR found 205 contributions worth ₹3.47 crore without declared PAN details across national parties, besides 33 contributions worth ₹38.8 lakh carrying missing or incorrect PAN information.ADR also found that BJP and Congress had not declared payment dates for their contributions. The filings establish that the money was received during FY2024-25, but do not allow every contribution to be placed precisely on the election calendar.Five donors did the heavy liftingThe five largest common donors gave ₹208.5 crore, accounting for 80.59% of the ₹258.73-crore pool. The biggest was Derive Investments, a Mumbai-based investment firm. Its PAN appears against four BJP contributions adding up to ₹53 crore. Congress received another ₹5 crore from the same PAN.Next came ITC Infotech India Ltd, ITC’s wholly owned technology and digital-services subsidiary. It gave ₹33.5 crore to BJP and ₹11.5 crore to Congress, or ₹45 crore in all.ITC Ltd, the diversified conglomerate with businesses spanning FMCG, cigarettes, paperboards, packaging and agribusiness, gave another ₹39 crore to BJP and ₹4 crore to Congress. Its two-party total was ₹43 crore. ITC Ltd and ITC Infotech have been counted separately because they are separate legal entities carrying separate PANs.The fourth-largest common donor was an individual.Suresh Amritlal Kotak, a veteran cotton trader and industry figure often described by his peers as the “Cotton Man of India”, gave ₹30 crore to BJP and ₹7.5 crore to Congress, or ₹37.5 crore in all.Then came Hindustan Zinc Ltd, a Vedanta Group company and integrated producer of zinc, lead and silver. It gave ₹15 crore to BJP and ₹10 crore to Congress.How commons donors contributed to two major partiesTwo companies, a perfect 50:50 splitMost large common donors leaned heavily towards BJP. Two companies followed a strikingly different script.Century Plyboards (India) Ltd, the Kolkata-headquartered maker of plywood, laminates and other wood products, gave ₹5 crore to BJP and ₹5 crore to Congress. Star Cement Ltd, a cement manufacturer with plants in Meghalaya, Assam and West Bengal, gave ₹3 crore to each.Micro Labs Ltd, the Bengaluru-based pharmaceutical company best known for the Dolo brand, came close to an even split, giving ₹2 crore to BJP and ₹2.05 crore to Congress.Others leaned sharply towards one party.Finolex Industries, a manufacturer of PVC pipes, fittings and resin, gave ₹5 crore to BJP and ₹1 crore to Congress. Mysore Projects gave ₹3.26 crore to BJP and ₹25 lakh to Congress.Malabar Gold Ltd, the jewellery company subsequently renamed Malabar Gold and Diamonds Ltd, gave at least ₹10.0525 crore to BJP and ₹25 lakh to Congress.Christy Friedgram Industry gave ₹1.90 crore to BJP and ₹1 crore to Congress. The other verified common donors were Russell Credit, Peoples Education Society, Sri City, Muthoot Finance, T V Mohandas Pai, Josco Fashion Jewellers and H S Purewal.Not just BJP and CongressTiger Associates, a West Bengal partnership that describes itself as an area distributor for Nagaland, Sikkim and Punjab state lotteries, gave ₹60 crore to AIADMK, ₹50 crore to DMK and ₹50 crore to Trinamool Congress using the same PAN.That is ₹160 crore across three parties. Of this, ₹110 crore went to the two principal Tamil Nadu rivals, AIADMK and DMK.NATCO Pharma Ltd, a Hyderabad-headquartered pharmaceutical company focused on complex generic medicines and niche molecules, appears across five party filings.Its identified contributions total ₹35.55 crore: ₹16.5 crore to BJP, ₹10 crore to YSR Congress, ₹7 crore to TDP, ₹1.5 crore to Janasena and ₹55 lakh to CPI(M).How donors contributed to multiple partiesCentury Plyboards also gave ₹1 crore to YSR Congress and ₹50 lakh to TDP, taking its identified contribution across four parties to ₹11.5 crore.Vedanta Ltd, a diversified natural-resources company with operations spanning zinc, aluminium, iron ore, oil and gas, steel and power, identified political contributions of ₹67 crore to BJP, ₹25 crore to BJD and ₹20 crore to JMM in its audited standalone FY2024-25 financial statements. That was ₹112 crore across the three parties. Its broader standalone donation-expense line was ₹116 crore.Not every multi-party combination represents political rivals. BJP, TDP and Janasena contested the 2024 elections in Andhra Pradesh as NDA allies. TDP and YSR Congress, however, fought on opposite sides.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesLikewise, DMK and AIADMK were direct rivals in Tamil Nadu. BJP and BJD contested against each other in Odisha, while BJP and the JMM-led alliance were the principal opposing camps in Jharkhand.Deng Xiaoping famously said it did not matter whether a cat was black or white, so long as it caught mice. India’s donation filings offer their own lesson in pragmatism. For at least 19 donors, choosing between saffron and Congress blue was apparently not an either-or proposition.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorArghya Prasun RoychowdhuryInterested in politics, policy, data and cricket.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosH1N1 Cases Rise In Delhi: Health Minister Nadda Holds Meet, Reviews Swine Flu Situation‘Proportionate Response’: MEA Explains Bulldozer Action Outside Pakistan High Commission In Delhi4-Year-Old Viral Sensation Karga Tinkle EXCLUSIVE | “Don’t Call Me Chinese, I Am Indian”‘Making Provocative Remarks Against India For Years’: MEA Slams US Body Over RSS Sanctions CallRevanth Reddy’s US Trip Cancelled After MEA Denies Clearance, Telangana Delegation Goes AheadPellet-gun Row: Rahul Gandhi At Parliament Street Police Station To Lodge Complaint With DCP‘Don’t Politicise Our School’: Villagers Block CJP Visit As Party Alleges BJP Attack In RajasthanModi Pushes AI, Youth And Data Agenda, Tells Secretaries To Break Government Silos And InnovatePirates Hijack Two Ships Carrying 22 Indians Off Yemen And Somalia, Crew Safety Raises Concern‘NEET, Delimitation, Cauvery, Drugs’: Vijay’s Key Requests Before Amit Shah At Tamil Nadu Meeting123PhotostoriesThe psychology of being genuinely charming: Why making people feel seen and heard matters more than confidenceTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: From Dilip Joshi, Amit Bhatt to Munmun Dutta, here’s how much popular actors earn per episode10 baby boy names inspired by wisdom, knowledge and intelligenceOptical Illusion personality test: What you spot first reveals your secret dominant traitH1N1 is rising again: Doctors explain why swine flu cases are increasing and how to stay protectedWorking out in extreme heat? 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