Cash crunch pinches candidates in BMC poll

Mumbai: If you find the energy missing in campaigning for the upcoming BMC polls, blame it on demonetisation, say candidates contesting the elections. Barely 10 days left but campaigning across the city is yet to pick up. According to candidates, the cash crunch is proving an obstacle in raising funds for the polls.

A candidate on condition of anonymity said, "It is an open secret that we have to pay activists for their participation in the campaign. You need crowds for door-to-door visits to impress the voters. Each activist is being paid about Rs 400 to Rs 500 per day. But due to the lack of liquid cash, we are finding it difficult to pay them."

Aspirants said that the official expenditure limit of Rs 10 lakh was "meagre". One of them said, "Taking into account all expenses, we need at least Rs 30 to Rs 40 lakh for the polls."

A senior corporator from Andheri said, "Earlier, developers, traders, shopkeepers etc. used to donate generously for the polls. Even people who had been favoured by us in the past used to help us. However, they are now finding it difficult to withdraw large sums of money from the banks, which in turn has affected cash flow for the elections."

Another candidate said, "The money received from the party is not enough to cater to the demands of elections. So, I am literally borrowing money to make things happen. The responsibility of arranging campaign material for campaigning has been entrusted to some of our activists while some have been tasked with providing food and beverages to people. I have promised to settle their dues later."

The fact that all parties are contesting separately has further added to their woes. "It means donors have to share their donations with more people, which has reduced the pool of money further. So, we have to make do with whatever we are getting from them," said a candidate from Chembur.