As the political temperature rises in Gujarat ahead of the Lok Sabha election on May 7, candidates are turning to innovative methods to fund their campaigns. It is usual for independent candidates and smaller parties to take to crowdfunding. This time, though, major political players, accustomed to relying on large donors and party funds, are also tapping into the power of the masses to fill their financial coffers.
Armies march on their stomachs, and electoral battles are fought on the ability to spend resources.The primary opposition party in India, the Congress, fi nds itself hamstrung in this election due to its inability to access funds after its party’s bank accounts were allegedly frozen. So, it is not surprising to fi nd party candidates seeking funds from the public to fuel their campaigns.
Rutvik Makwana, a Congress candidate from Surendranagar who comes from a modest fi nancial background, says, “I initially sought aid from the party, but the leadership could not help me. However, senior party fi gures, NGOs and even business community members came forward to help me out of my predicament. The funds were transferred directly to the smaller committees at booth and area levels.” The funds ranged from Rs 10 to Rs 500.
Naishadh Desai, the Congress candidate from Navsari, faces a different challenge. Despite reaching out to constituents for donations, he has received no fi -nancial support. Desai, running against BJP party chief C R Paatil, has resorted to symbolic begging to garner support. “I did not get donations from the party despite writing multiple letters. I plan to carry a begging bowl and approach people for donations,” says Desai, who is campaigning dressed like Mahatma Gandhi in a dhoti, short kurta, spectacles and a lathi in his hand. Desai’s property, Ishwar Farm, has long been a Congress campaign hub. Recently, he sold a signifi cant portion of the property, leading to talk that he had sold it to fund his campaign. However, Desai clarifi ed that the sale was not related to elections.
Meanwhile, Lalit Vasoya of the Congress, contesting from Porbandar, has been actively seeking “vote and note” from constituents. Vasoya has urged voters to contribute to his campaign through social media and campaign events, providing QR codes and bank details for donations.
Vasoya told TOI, “I am contesting the election on the party’s order. However, I had no money, and the party could not give me any. I am also fi ghting against the pollution caused by the Jetpur saree industry, so I do not expect the industrialists to fund me.” He received donations ranging from Rs 1 to Rs 100. He has also requested his supporters to deposit the funds directly into his bank account. Vasoya said, “I sold 12 bighas of land to contest the election and will sell more land this time.”
Geni Thakor, the Congress candidate from Banaskantha LS seat, received Rs 50 lakh from locals and various organizations to fund her campaign expenses, including vehicle fuel and arrangements for public meetings.
In a meeting, Thakor, the sitting Congress MLA from Vav in Banaskantha, said, “People from all communities across 14 talukas in the district have taken it upon themselves to bear the cost of all kinds of works including setting up pavilions for public meetings, food and beverages.” Similarly, Chandan Thakore, a Congress candidate from Patan, has been requesting people to generously donate.
(Inputs from Himanshu Kaushik in Ahmedabad, Yagnesh Mehta in Surat and Nimish Khakhariya in Rajkot)
