Bengaluru, Jan 10: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said on Friday that the 'homa' (a Hindu fire ritual) performed at a Tamil Nadu temple was for his protection and peace of mind.
Speaking to reporters after offering prayers at a temple on the occasion of Vaikunta Ekadasi, he said, "I pray to God every day for good tidings. I also pray to God to protect me from those who wish me ill. There is nothing secretive about it."
Taking a dig at the reporters, Shivakumar added, "You (media) also keep giving me quite a bit of trouble and create newer and newer news. I also prayed for protection from the media."
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New Delhi: Contrary to expectations that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would be adversely affected by the Supreme Court’s scrapping of the electoral bonds scheme in February 2024, the party’s finances have seen a significant boost in 2024–25 through electoral trusts. It has emerged that electoral trusts alone donated ₹2,577 crore to the BJP during this period.
Following the abolition of electoral bonds, corporate donors seeking partial anonymity appear to have shifted to the electoral trust route, with the BJP continuing to be the largest beneficiary.
According to data available on the Election Commission of India’s website, a total of ₹4,276 crore was donated through electoral trusts, of which the ruling BJP received 83.6 per cent. Compared to 2023–24, corporate donations flowing to the BJP have increased nearly fourfold. The Congress received 7.3 per cent of the total donations, while the Trinamool Congress accounted for 3.6 per cent.
Donations received through electoral trusts constitute only a portion of the total funds collected by political parties. Parties also receive contributions directly from individuals, corporates, institutions and charitable organisations. Over the past several years, donations from sources other than electoral trusts have also shown a steady increase.
