Economic slump has left parties worrying about funds

PATNA: If RJD chief Lalu Prasad is expressing concern over the dwindling donations due to the economic slow down he has reasons to worry. After
all, fighting elections in Bihar has become a costly affair.

During the 2004 Lok Sabha polls, over 20 choppers were seen at the Patna airport for at least one month to carry leaders of various political parties to their election meetings. "Even if we take into account the old rates of hiring the chopper at Rs 40,000 per hour, we can just imagine the funds flowing in the elections," remarked CPI state secretary Badri Narayan Lal stressing that the economic conditions will affect the political parties taking funds from corporate houses. "Our party still sticks to public donations," Lal said.

The cap of the Election Commission of spending Rs 25 lakh per candidate becomes a joke. "Our Central leaders during the last elections gave Rs 1.5 crore to each of the candidates in two installments. Another Rs 50 lakh was pumped in for candidates they thought were capable of winning," recalled a leader of a national political party. It is not surprising that the EC has sought to check the activities of dummy candidates fielded by serious contenders to hide their actual expenses.

"Our party in the state is managed through funds donated monthly by our legislators and MPs. But for elections, other sources have to be tapped and donations have to be collected," remarked RJD state treasurer Rakesh Ranjan.

The RJD while in power never faced shortage of funds during elections. However, being in the opposition this time, the party is relying heavily on its leaders stationed in Delhi. "There are quite a few candidates who are capable of arranging funds on their own or through donations," remarked a senior RJD leader. RJD sources pointed out that a RJD candidate (now a Union minister) had to take money from the market at an interest rate of 15 per cent.

"Laluji should be worried as he will be facing anti-incumbency. Such parties need more funds. We will not face such problems. We are capable of fighting elections without funds," quipped JD(U) spokesperson Shivanand Tiwary. However, politicians of Bihar recalled that after strained relationship between Nitish Kumar and George Fernandes during 2004 Lok Sabha polls, the JD(U) found itself starved of funds so much that it could not afford to put advertisements in the papers.

The assembly elections of 2005 saw the BJP funding the joint campaign. For the BJP and Congress, funds are mainly routed through Delhi. "This time the JD(U) should not have problems with funds as it is the ruling party," remarked a senior leader of the party.

Source : Times of India