From bucket to bank a|c

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Taking a cue from the model set by Aam Aadmi Party , the CPM in Kerala is set to raise funds for the election campaign in a transparent manner, through “crowd-funding“. The party , which is struggling to match BJP and Congress-led UDF in the funds department, has now decided to approach masses for raising money.

In the past, the CPM used to collect funds through bucket-collection.Now, a bank account has been created and the supporters have been asked to credit money into the account. The funds will be properly audited and reported after the polls.Earlier, the accounts of bucket collection submitted by the lower committees were considered correct and approved by the state committee without any audit.

CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said this is the first time that the CPM is collecting funds in a centralised fashion. “Our system was to collect funds at the booth level and spend it locally . But, this time, we have planned a series of centralised campaigns and need funds to support them,“ Balakrishnan said.

By routing all funds through an account in a nationalised bank, the CPM has set a transparent model, he said, adding that the audited accounts would be submitted to the Election Commission.

Sources said the decision was taken by the CPM state committee two months ago. Party politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan, during his Facebook live chat in the last week of March, had hinted that the party would need the support of public, especially those of the NRIs, to take on the UDF and BJP, which he claimed would spend lavishly during the polls.

The state committee of CPM on Friday issued a request asking people to credit money , however small it is, in the account and help the LDF in its mission to oust the UDF government “which is totally corrupt.“

“We have to take on the extravagant campaign unleashed by the UDF and BJP . According to our knowledge, BJP is spending around Rs 250 crore for the polls in Kerala. This is criminal wastage of money and we can never match to spend anywhere near that. The UDF, which has lost hopes in the liquor lobby , roped in the real estate lobby by gifting large swathes of land in the final days and got some easy bucks,“ alleged a senior CPM leader. The long duration of the campaign, owing to the delayed poll date, has also put a strain on the coffers of political parties.