National Herald Receives 69% of Karnataka’s Government Advertising Budget

Bengaluru: Controversy has erupted over the Karnataka government allocating public advertising funds to the Congress-owned online newspaper, National Herald, without proper justification. Reports have revealed that this media outlet, with a very small readership compared to other national newspapers, received more advertising funds than any other national newspaper both at the state and national levels. This has raised questions about the transparency of how public money is being utilised by the government.

Statistics show that National Herald’s readership in Karnataka is minimal. Nevertheless, records obtained by other media outlets indicate that crores of rupees from the state government’s advertising budget were granted to National Herald.

For two consecutive financial years, National Herald has been the single largest beneficiary of Karnataka’s advertising expenditure. In 2023–24, the newspaper received 1.90 crore rupees from the state treasury. In 2024–25, nearly 99 lakh rupees were allocated to it. Reports indicate that many other national newspapers with much higher circulation received significantly lower funds, and some prominent media outlets did not even receive half of what was allocated to National Herald.

In 2024–25 alone, the Karnataka government reportedly spent 1.42 crore rupees on advertisements in national-level newspapers, of which 69 percent went to National Herald. Meanwhile, numerous leading national dailies did not receive any allocation during the same period. Critics allege that taxpayers’ money is being used not for genuine publicity or public purposes, but to financially support a politically affiliated publication.

National Herald’s parent company, Associated Journals Limited (AJL), is under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case. Notices have also been issued in the case to Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. The Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing sent notices to Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, seeking detailed financial records related to contributions made to National Herald and Young India. The investigation alleges irregularities in asset funding and transfers.

However, the Congress is attempting to justify the move by claiming that National Herald is a national heritage and questioning why funding it should be a problem for other media outlets.