SoM
Bangalore, Apr 15: With Lok Sabha polls round the corner, when many political parties are reportedly pumping funds for campaigning, many Congress candidates seem to be reeling under a financial crunch. They are learnt to be cursing their fate when the State exchequer is getting loaded with revenue.
With just 8 days remaining for the first phase of polling and 15 days for the second phase, a few candidates in Congress camp are learnt to be running around here and there to fuel campaign funds.
Congress has been maintaining a policy hitherto to provide funds for such of its candidates who were not economically very sound. Accordingly, in the first instalment a sum of Rs. 50 lakh is learnt to have been given to each of such candidates. An assurance exists to fund another Rs. 50 lakh in the second instalment. However, the candidates say that the sum is too meagre to even buy snacks and beverages.
Usually about five Assembly constituencies comprise a Lok Sabha constituency. Keeping an allocation of Rs. 1 crore for each of the Assembly constituency, the requirement would be about Rs. 5 crore. That being the case, the funds extended by the party leaders would be too insufficient. Candidates of other parties spending money lavishly seems to be a sight for sore eyes with respect to Congress candidates, it is learnt.
A few State Congress leaders opine that the money flow to candidates would have been easy if the party had held the reins of the Government.
S. Bangarappa, Congress candidate from Shimoga, is believed to be camping here without taking up campaigning work in Shimoga. It appears he too has felt the crunch. KPCC President R.V. Deshpande himself had recently said that none had spent anything for staging the Congress convention at Davanagere.
Another interesting point is, a BJP leader has been reportedly greasing the palms of a disgruntled Congress leader to prevent him from canvassing for a Congress candidate.
Naturally, such Congress leaders would demand money if pressurised to canvass, according to sources.