85% of FY25 political donations went to BJP fridAY 06 march, 2026 BJP INC CPI(M) BSP AAP epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard China GDP Lower growth due to US tariff `6,769.15 cr `918.3 cr `172.6 cr `58.6 cr `39.3 cr bjp got `6,769 crore in donations Chinese economy is expected to grow at a lower rate between 4.5 to five per cent in the face of Trump’s trade tariff war and the worsening geopolitical crisis A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS Page 9 l New Delhi l J8.00 l PAGES 12 bsp’s other sources BJP declared a total income of `6,769.14 cr during FY 2024–25 and spent 55.76% of it, amounting to `3,774.58 cr. The INC’s total income was `918.28 cr, while its expenditure for the year was `1,111.94 cr, as per an analysis by Association for Democratic Reforms The BSP reported 100% of its income (`58.5 cr) from other sources, while the Congress issued coupons worth `350.12 cr, which form 38.12% of its total income Ravi to replace Speculation over, Nitish files Rajya Sabha papers Bose in Bengal, Sandhu Delhi L-G RA M ASHAN K AR @ Patna Major shake-up of gubernatorial positions; Saxena for Ladakh, addl TN charge for Arlekar SU B H E N D U M AI T I a n d F aya z W a n i @ Kolkata/Srinagar Barely two months before the West Bengal government’s tenure is due to end on May 7, Governor C V Ananda Bose on Thursday abruptly put in his papers, drawing concern from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and speculation on the imposition of President’s rule in the state. He will be replaced by Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi. “The reasons behind his resignation are not known to me at this moment. However, given the prevailing circumstances, I would not be surprised if the Governor has been subjected to some pressure from the Union home minister to serve certain political interests on the eve of the forthcoming State assembly elections,” Mamata wrote on X. She came down heavily on the Centre for naming Ravi as the successor. “The Union home minister has only informed me about appointing R N Ravi as the Governor but didn’t discuss the issue with me as per convention,” Mamata alleged. Parallelly, Kavinder Gupta resigned as Lt Governor of Union Territory of Ladakh, just eight months after taking charge. The ruling Trinamool Congress fears the Centre could impose President’s rule amidst intense rumblings over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls because of deletions of over 60 lakh voters in the final rolls and placing 60 lakh more in the ‘under adjudication’ category . However, the BJP leadership denied the TMC charges. Economist and BJP MLA Ashok Lahiri, told this newspaper, “BJP has no interest in imposition of 356 in Bengal. We want elections to be held in time after completions of the proper voters list following the SIR exercise.” Bose served for three-and-a-half years as Governor before tendering his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu, who is due to visit Bengal for two days from Friday Murmu . has accepted his resignation, sources said. Bose was quoted by a news agency as saying that he had spent enough time in office and did not want to continue any longer. He, however, refused to elaborate. His tenure was scheduled to end in November 2027. Bose had major differences with the Mamata Banerjee government on various issues, including bills and the appointment of vice chancellors, but overall he was not abrasive. That may not be the case with his Ravi, whose run-ins with the M K Stalin government spawned a whole gamut of legal challenges that went right up to the Supreme Court. As for Ladakh, its new Lt Governor is Vinai Kumar Saxena, Lt Governor of Delhi. He replaces Kavinder Gupta, who has been appointed Governor of Himachal. P3 & P8 Taranjit Sandhu Appointment of new guvs Shiv Pratap Shukla, Governor of Telangana Jishnu Dev Varma, new Governor of Maharashtra Nand Kishore Yadav appointed as Governor of Nagaland Syed Ata Hasnain Lt General (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain, decorated officer and strategic affairs expert, appointed Governor of Bihar Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Governor of Kerala to discharge the functions of Governor of Tamil Nadu three-and-a-half months after being sworn-in as Bihar chief minister for a record 10th time, JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar on Thursday filed his nomination papers for Rajya Sabha, marking his return to national politics after two decades. The move also paves the way for a new government in the state, likely to be led by BJP . Along with Nitish, BJP national president Nitin Nabin also filed papers for the Upper House. From Bihar, three others from the alliance filed nomination papers—former BJP MLA Shivesh Kumar, JD(U) BJP national president Nitin Nabin files his Rajya Sabha nomination papers in Patna on Thursday in the presence of Amit Shah and Nitish Kumar (seated) nominee and Union minister of state for agriculture Ram Nath Thakur, and Rashtriya Trump wants say in Ayatollah’s successor AG E N C I E S @ Tel Aviv, Tehran US President Donald Trump insisted on Thursday that he have a say in picking Iran’s next supreme leader, as the war triggered by the US-Israeli campaign that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reverberated throughout West Asia and beyond. Iran launched a fresh wave of attacks against Israel, US bases and Gulf allies, while warning that the US would “bitterly regret” torpedoing an Iranian warship. The war has escalated, affecting an additional 14 countries across West Asia and beyond. Israel issued a mass evacuation warning for all of Beirut’s southern suburbs. All the while, the US and Israel battered Iran with nationwide strikes, targeting their military capabilities, leadership and nuclear programme. Iran continued to pummel Gulf monarchies allied to the US-Israel axis. Iran claimed it hit Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport with Khorramshahr-4 missiles, while Israel denied it, saying the airport is open. Bahrain said on Thursday a facility in its oil infrastructure was attacked. Residents in Abu Dhabi reported a series of loud explosions on Thursday . Israel announced multiple incoming missile attacks and air sirens in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. In the UAE, a drone was shot down near the Al Dhafra Air Base, which hosts US forces, and shrapnel fell to the ground, authorities said. Six people were wounded. Azerbaijan accused Iran of attacking it with drones — though Tehran denied it. P9 Lanka to move out second Iran ship j a v a r i a r a n a @ New Delhi Sri Lanka on Thursday denied permission to Iranian warship IRIS Bushehr, sister ship of the frigate IRIS Dena, which was torpedoed by the US on Wednesday, to dock in Colombo. IRIS Bushehr has an engine problem, which it wants fixed. Lanka, however, agreed to bring part of the 208 personnel on board ashore while moving the vessel away from the vicinity of Colombo Port. In a televised address to the nation, President Dissanayake said he would permit the Sri Lankan Navy to transfer a portion of the crew ashore in line with the JAYAN T H JA C O B @ New Delhi Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri meets Ambassador of Iran Mohammad Fathali | pti india on Thursday condoled the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri signing the condolence book “on behalf of the people and the Government of India” at the Embassy of Iran in New Delhi. Misri visited the embassy and conveyed India’s message of sympathy to Iran’s Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali, marking India’s first official gesture following Khamenei’s killing in a joint strike by the US and Israel on February 28. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Misri signed the condolence book on behalf of India on the demise of the Iranian leader. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also spoke with Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Thursday amid the escalating crisis. A b’day gift for Vidisha: ‘Mama’ coaching classes, mobile clinics On his 67th birthday ‘Mama’— , as Shivraj Singh Chouhan is fondly called across Madhya Pradesh—turned the day into a gift for his Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency He kicked things . off by launching Mama Coaching Classes, a free programme to help students prepare for exams like banking, SSC, MPPSC, DRDO, and forest services. The initiative will start in Vidisha, Raisen, and Bherunda, offering guidance from experienced teachers, modern study materials and career advice. “The aim is to ensure that no young person in the region is deprived of opportunities due to lack of resources,” ‘Mama’ said. Vidisha is the Lok Sabha constituency of the Union Agriculture Minister. He didn’t stop there. To encourage bright students, he announced Prem-Sundar Pratib- No lack of resources The initiative will start in Vidisha, Raisen and Bherunda. Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the aim is to ensure that no young person is deprived of opportunities due to lack of resources. ha Samman, rewarding top performers in Classes 10 and 12 with cash prizes ranging from `21,000 to `51,000. The three best students in the constituency will get special awards. Healthcare also got a boost with Mama Mobile Hospital. Eight mobile clinics, one for each Assembly segment of the Vidisha constituency will trav, el to villages and remote areas, offering free consultations, treatment, and diagnostics such as ECGs and blood tests. “Many interior areas lack medical facilities. Even for minor ailments, people travel to cities. These vans will bring healthcare closer home,” he said. The initiative will be supported through Chouhan’s MP Local Area Development Fund and public cooperation. ‘Mama’ also announced motorised tricycles for Divyang citizens in the Vidisha region. The birthday bash doubled as Prem Aur Seva Sankalp Diwas, with Chouhan planting saplings in Bhopal with his family. Ahead of his birthday, he asked people to skip flowers, garlands, banners, and plant trees instead under the message. And his well-wishers followed suit, planting saplings. Pawar, Athawale and Tawde to get elected Six candidates of the ruling MahaYuti alliance, including Union Minister Ramdas Athawale and BJP leader Vinod Tawde, and Opposition MVA nominee Sharad Pawar, are set to get elected to the Rajya Sabha unopposed. Kushwaha files papers Apart from BJP national president Nitin Nabin, three others from the ruling NDA alliance filed nomination papers. They include former BJP MLA Shivesh Kumar, JD(U)’s Ram Nath Thakur and Rashtriya Lok Morcha leader Upendra Kushwaha. Search on Sukhoi 30 fighter jet goes missing in Assam j a v a r i a r a n a @ New Delhi AN Indian Air Force (IAF) Su30 MKI fighter aircraft lost contact after taking off from Jorhat in Assam on Thursday evening, with the last communication recorded at 7.42 pm. “An IAF Su-30 MKI is reported overdue. The aircraft had taken off from Jorhat, Assam and was last in contact at 7.42 pm. “Further details are being ascertained. Search and Rescue mission has been initiated,” Defence PRO Lt Col Mahender Rawat said in a statement in the evening. He further said that search and rescue operations have been initiated to ascertain the status of the fighter jet. In aviation terms, an aircraft is considered “overdue” when it fails to report or make contact at the expected time after a flight or communication check. The status of the aircraft and its pilot is not yet known. Meanwhile, another official said some locals from Chokihola area in Bokajan sub-division have claimed that a plane may have crashed inside a forested area. “We are preparing a team to send and verify it. We cannot confirm anything at this moment,” he added. More details are awaited. ‘Live-in couples entitled to get police protection’ chouhan’s day-out a n u r a a g s i n g h @ Bhopal country’s obligations under international law. The government, he added, did not want the vessel to enter Colombo Port, as its presence close to the island’s main commercial harbour could pose risks to shipping activity and the economy in, cluding the possibility of higher insurance surcharges on vessels using the port. Later, addressing the media, the President said the personnel aboard the vessel would first be disembarked in Colombo to ensure rescue operations continue without disruption. After that, the Lankan Navy will sail the vessel to Trincomalee, where it will be anchored. P7 India condoles Ali’s death Kavinder Gupta, Lt. Governor of Ladakh, appointed Governor of Himachal Pradesh Vinai Kumar Saxena, Lt. Governor of Delhi, appointed Lt. Governor of Ladakh Lok Morcha leader Upendra Ku s h w a h a . T h a k u r a n d Kushwaha are sitting RS MPs. Their tenure ends on April 9. Nitish said that from the beginning of his parliamentary journey he wanted to become a , member of both Houses of the Bihar Legislature as well as both Houses of Parliament. “In view of my aspiration, I seek to become a member of Rajya Sabha in the elections being held this time,” he posted on X, adding that the new government will have his guidance. The veteran leader’s sudden move left JD(U) workers stunned, who blamed the party’s national working president Sanjay Kumar Jha and Union Minister Rajeev Ranjan Singh for the decision. P8 U D AYAN K ISH O R E @ New Delhi blistering blues in final India beat England by 7 runs in a high-scoring semifinal in Mumbai on Thursday. India will meet New Zealand in Ahmedabad on Sunday in final | debadatta mullick | p11 voting in nepal concludes peacefully Nepalese voted on Thursday in the first general elections since violent Gen Z protests toppled the K P Sharma Oliled government. Voter turnout was pegged at 60% | P9 The Delhi High Court has affirmed that two consenting adults in a live-in relationship “akin to marriage” are entitled to police protection against threats from family members, underscoring that the right to choose a partner is a fundamental right. Justice Saurabh Banerjee made the observation while allowing a petition by a couple seeking protection from the woman’s father, who had allegedly threatened them over their relationship. “The live-in relationship which the petitioners are in is, in a way, akin to marriage, though not legally. And at the end of the day marriage in In, dia is recognised if it is inter se two consenting individuals, irrespective of caste, creed, colour, religion and/or faith. The Constitution guarantees fundamental rights in the form of Article 19 thereof, which enshrines their respective right to freedom and in the form of Article 21, which enshrines their respective right to life and liberty the judge said in an or,” der passed on February 24. Although the couple were not legally married, as “major and consenting adults who have willingly and with utmost responsibility chosen to enter into a relationship with each other, and for which they have even executed a Live-in Relationship Agreement on February 17, 2026 recording their desire(s), intent(s) and action(s), no one… have any right or authority to cause any hindrance of any kind to them,” the judge added. The petitioners’ counsel told the court that the couple, born in 2006 and 2007, had been in a relationship since 2024 and were residing together. He said the woman’s father had been issuing threats, “placing their lives and liberty in jeopardy”.