Rs 13 crore donation for TVK, Rs 191 crore for DMK; Election Commission data surfaces

CHENNAI: Details regarding the contributions received by actor Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, for the 2025-26 financial year are out. TVK received a total of Rs 13.3 crore from four individuals. Adhav Arjuna and R.V. Ranjith Kumar accounted for 99 per cent of the total contributions. This information is disclosed in the data submitted by TVK to the Election Commission.

State Minister for Sports and Public Works, Arjuna, contributed Rs 8.2 crore, while Minister for Forests, R. V. Ranjith Kumar, contributed Rs 5 crore. Minister Arjuna was the largest contributor to the party during that financial year, accounting for over 60 per cent of the total contributions. Apart from the ministers, the party received two other contributions—each amounting to Rs 5 lakh.

'Snow Show,' located in Lions Town, Tuticorin, contributed via a demand draft. 'Snow Exports and Imports,' an entity registered at the same address, also contributed five lakh rupees through a demand draft.

Meanwhile, data submitted to the Election Commission indicated that the AIADMK reported receiving contributions amounting to approximately Rs 161.35 crore during the 2025-26 financial year. The largest contribution, totalling Rs 135 crore, came from Tiger Associates.

DMK disclosed receiving contributions amounting to approximately Rs 191.19 crore. The largest contributor is 'Tiger Associates,' which provided Rs 125 crore. Reports indicate that Tiger Associates, a Kolkata-based lottery firm, is linked to Santiago Martin, a prominent figure in the lottery industry. Prior to the Supreme Court's decision to strike down the electoral bond scheme in February 2024, Santiago Martin's company, 'Future Gaming and Hotel Services,' was the largest purchaser of these bonds. It is reported that Future Gaming contributed Rs 509 crore to the DMK through electoral bonds.