Top Section
Explore Business Standard
Don’t miss the latest developments in business and finance.
National Political Parties
The changing income profiles of national parties comes amidst the rising importance of electoral bonds
The BJP received Rs 351.50 crore or 72.17 per cent of the total donations made to political parties by Electoral Trusts in 2021-22, while the Congress received less than the TRS, Samajwadi Party, AAP and the YSR Congress, according to the Association for Democratic Reforms. Electoral trust is a non-profit organisation formed in India for orderly receiving of contributions from corporate entities and individuals to political parties. It aims at improving transparency in the usage of funds for election-related expenses. The BJP received nineteen times more donations than the Congress in 2021-22 from electoral trust, the ADR data showed. The total donations to the BJP were over 2.5 times of what went to the other nine parties. The Association for Democratic Reforms, in its analysis of Electoral Trusts, said Rs 351.50 crore or 72.17 per cent of the total donations received by all political partiesin 2021-22 went to the BJP. According to ADR, the Congress received Rs 18.44 crore from .
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre and said that Bharat Jodo Yatra is a "walk for an India where no one lives in fear"
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid tributes to Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 98th birth anniversary, and said his contribution to India is indelible. Vajpayee led the BJP to power at the Centre in the 90s and remained India's prime minister for six years. Modi tweeted, "Tributes to Atal Ji on his Jayanti. His contribution to India is indelible. His leadership and vision motivate millions of people." He also paid homage to freedom fighter and educationist Madan Mohan Malaviya on his birth anniversary. He said Malaviya, the key figure behind the foundation of the Banaras Hindu University, dedicated his life to empowering education sector and will always be remembered for this. He was a great son of mother India, Modi said.
As the Congress' 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' entered Haryana on Wednesday, party leader Rahul Gandhi targeted the BJP, saying the fight today is between two ideologies--one which benefits a select few, while the "other is the voice of the people, farmers and labourers". The Yatra crossed over to Haryana from Rajasthan. Addressing a gathering in this Haryana district, Gandhi said the fight between the two ideologies in the country was not a new one and has been going on for thousands of years. On the BJP leaders questioning his cross-country foot march, Gandhi said they ask what is the need to walk from Kanyakumari. "I am opening a shop of love in the market of hate through the Bharat Jodo Yatra. When these people go out to spread hatred in this country, people of our ideology go out to spread love and affection," he said. "This is not a new fight, do not think that this fight is of today or of the 21st century, this fight is thousands of years-old... one ideology which gives benefits to .
Following an uproar over his Latka-Jhatka comment about Union Minister Smriti Irani, Congress leader Ajay Rai clarified that he had no intention of insulting anyone
BJP's National General Secretary, Dushyant Kumar Gautam has said that his party will win more than 350 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha election
The Congress in Madhya Pradesh has promised that if it is voted to power in the state Assembly polls next year, it would reintroduce the farm loan waiver scheme which it had brought after forming a government in 2018. The party's state unit president and former chief minister Kamal Nath made this announcement on Saturday evening, when he also said that the farm loan of every farmer in the state would have been cleared by now if his government was at the helm. Ahead of the last Assembly polls, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had promised to implement a farm loan waiver scheme in the state if the party came to power. The party delivered on its promise as Kamal Nath signed the file for waiving loans of up to Rs 2 lakh soon after taking oath as the chief minister in December 2018. It is widely believed that the grand old party's promise of farm loan waiver was one of the major factors behind its victory. Sharing the order of the loan waiver scheme issued on December 17, 2018, the day he ..
Congress' ongoing mass movement 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' resumed on Thursday from Golya village in Rajasthan's Dausa district
Should India abandon GM crop fears? Should India be worried about China's Covid-19 surge? Will fortune change for new-age stocks in 2023? What does it take to become a national party? Answers here
The recent assembly elections have helped AAP qualify for the national party status. So, what is it to be a national party in India? And what are the benefits of becoming one?
Congress leader Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, a four-time MLA, was on Sunday sworn in as the 15th chief minister of Himachal Pradesh in a ceremony attended by senior party figures including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Sukhu, 58, was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at a ceremony under the open sky at the historic Ridge ground here. Mukesh Agnihotri, the leader of opposition in the outgoing assembly, was administered the oath as the deputy chief minister. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot also attended the ceremony. Union minister Anand Sharma, former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Congress Himachal Pradesh in-charge Rajeev Shukla, state Congress chief Pratibha Singh and senior leader Sachin Pilot were also present.
Former Congress state chief Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu will take oath as the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh on Sunday
Several Congress leaders greeted former party chief Sonia Gandhi on her birthday on Friday, with AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge saying her "indomitable spirit" in the wake of adversity has inspired millions. The former Congress president is in Rajasthan on her 76th birthday and is spending time with her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Rahul Gandhi is leading the Bharat Jodo Yatra that is currently passing through Rajasthan.Today is a pre-declared holiday for the Yatra. In a tweet, Kharge said, "Extending my warm birthday greetings to CPP Chairperson, Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji. Her grace, dedication, indomitable spirit and dignity in the wake of adversity has inspired millions. I wish her a long and healthy life". The Congress, from its official Twitter handle, said, "Warm birthday wishes to Smt Sonia Gandhi who epitomizes sacrifice, courage & dedication.Her sense of duty and grace is an inspiration." Several top Congress leaders including party general secretary ...
Himachal Pradesh Assembly Election Results 2022: Congress has emerged victorious in the state after BJP's Jai Ram Thakur conceded defeat
The greatest solace for the BJP was the Congress' inability to mount a robust campaign. But a bigger imponderable was how the Aam Aadmi Party would fare
As 89 Gujarat Assembly seats go to the polls later this week, Radhika Ramaseshan travels to Saurashtra to gauge what voters are thinking
The government has convened an all-party meeting on December 6 to discuss the legislative business and important issues likely to be taken up during the winter session of Parliament. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi has sent out invitations to the floor leaders of political parties in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for the meeting. "It is my pleasure to invite you for a meeting of floor leaders of political parties in Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha to discuss legislative business and important issues likely to be taken up in the ensuing winter session of Parliament," the invite read. "I would also like to seek your cooperation to ensure smooth functioning of both Houses. The meeting shall be held on Tuesday the 6th December, 2022 at 11.00 AM in Parliament Library Building, Parliament House, New Delhi," it said. The winter session of Parliament will commence from December 7 and continue till December 29 having 17 sittings spread over 23 days.
Rebels could spoil the party for several official candidates
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic Ayodhya visit, criticized the previous governments for "abandoning" Ayodhya for their "sick politics"