By IANS,
Bhopal : Economic recession coupled with the 2008 assembly elections has left Madhya Pradesh’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) short of funds. The Congress is not so worried because its resources come from its national headquarters.
While the Congress has asked its state unit to focus on the campaign rather than worry about money, the BJP here has also to mobilise resources apart from votes.
“Recession has badly affected fund collection since most financiers, a majority of whom are local industrialists, are not able to contribute as they have done earlier,” said state BJP treasurer Ram Gupta.
Gupta told IANS: “The reason is simple. Their business has suffered due to the economic slowdown in the past six months or so. They are more busy in maintaining their market reputation than giving funds to the party.”
The state Congress is not as worried.
“Slowdown is everywhere but in our case it is the AICC (All India Congress Committee) that will be taking care of this problem. We are simply concerned with creating a network and the strategy to beat the BJP,” said Madhya Pradesh Congress treasurer N.P. Prajapati.
“Though there is recession, it has also given a good excuse to many industrialists to avoid political funding,” a former spokesman of the BJP added.
The one party which is not bothered by the funds crunch is the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
“Why should we bother about funds? Our workers contribute substantially. We do not contest with the funds of industrialists and businessmen,” says BSP’s state election in-charge Rajaram.