Nandini set to sponsor 2024-25 Indian Super League football tournament
Bengaluru: Nandini, the popular dairy brand owned by Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), is gearing up to sponsor the upcoming season of the Indian Super League (ISL) for 2024-25. This move by the state’s renowned dairy cooperative is aimed to promote its brand during the six-month-long sports event.
The 11th season of the ISL, scheduled to run from September 2024 to March 2025, will feature 163 football matches, with thirteen teams competing. According to a report by Money Control, KMF has recently floated a tender for firms to manage and promote the Nandini brand throughout the tournament.
KMF Managing Director M.K. Jagadish revealed that the cooperative is aiming for central sponsorship of the ISL, incorporating brand promotions on LED boards, presentation backdrops, dugout areas, and kiosks at all match venues. Additionally, Nandini will gain 300 seconds of exposure on television and OTT platforms, along with social media management throughout the ISL season, Jagadish added.
In a bid to expand its market reach, Nandini has also launched its whey-based energy drink, ‘Nandini Splash,’ in the U.S., making it available during the World Cup. KMF's MD highlighted that this move is part of a broader strategy to establish Nandini as a global brand.
Expanding further, a senior KMF official mentioned that Nandini is set to introduce its dairy products, including milk, curd, butter, and ghee, in the Delhi market. As part of a trial, these products were transported to Delhi by road, a journey of 56 hours, with the quality remaining unaffected.
Nandini has already made headlines by sponsoring the Scotland and Ireland cricket teams during the T20 World Cup, marking a milestone as the first Indian dairy brand to sponsor international cricket teams. This achievement gained widespread attention during the Karnataka Assembly elections in 2023.
The brand's prominence in Karnataka became a talking point ahead of the state elections when Amul announced plans to sell curd in Bengaluru. Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai clarified that Amul would not replace Nandini in Karnataka, assuring that both brands would coexist in the state's market.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Ready to face no-confidence motion, says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah
Hassan (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said that the Congress government led by him was ready to face the no-confidence motion if moved by the opposition during the legislature session from December 8.
With Deputy CM D K Shivakumar by his side, he reiterated that they would both abide by the high command's decision on the leadership issue.
"Let them (opposition) bring in a no-confidence motion or adjournment motion or any other motion. We are ready to face it. Ours is an open book, transparent government. We are ready to face anything," Siddaramaiah said in response to a question.
However, BJP state President B Y Vijayendra and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka, clarified that the party, along with the JD(S) has not discussed or decided anything so far regarding moving a no-confidence motion against the government.
ALSO READ: CM Siddaramaiah labels Kumaraswamy 'Manuvadi' over Bhagavad Gita curriculum push
The winter session of the Karnataka legislature will begin in Belagavi, bordering Maharashtra, on December 8 and will go on till 19th of this month.
Not wanting to react to a question on the leadership issue, the CM said the Congress high command is very strong.
"D K Shivakumar and I will be committed to whatever the high command decides," he said.
Earlier in the day in Bengaluru, Shivakumar accompanied AICC Mallikarjun Kharge till airport from Vidhana Soudha, after paying tributes to B R Ambedkar on his 69th death anniversary, which had led to some speculation about possible discussion between the two on the leadership issue.
The power tussle within the ruling party had intensified amid speculation about a change in chief minister in the state, after the Congress government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20.
However, both the CM and Deputy CM had recently held breakfast meetings at each others residences, on the instructions of the high command, which is seen as a move to pause the leadership tussle between the two and to signal Siddaramaiah's continuation as the CM for the time being, especially ahead of the Belagavi legislature session.
