Crowd-fund in hill bypoll
VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, 04 May 2019, Darjeeling: Swaraj Thapa, who is contesting the Darjeeling Assembly byelection as an Independent, has decided to rely on "online crowd-funding" for his campaign.
For the first time since elections were held in India after Independence, crowd- Swaraj Thapa funding is slowly catching the imagination of politicians. That the concept has come up even in a relatively small place like Darjeeling, observers believe, is an indication of electoral politics of future.
"I have decided to rely on crowdfunding as I am advocating clean politics, politics of transparency. I have already enrolled myself for crowdfunding and the process should start tomorrow (Saturday)," Thapa told The Telegraph.
There are many websites like OurDemocracy.in, which take up online crowdfunding for elections "There is transparency in the funds collection as every transaction is accounted for," said Thapa. "We are looking at bringing innovation to politics," said Thapa, a former journalist who is supported by the CPRM and the Congress.
Usually, crowdfunding platforms deduct a token amount -- usually 5 per cent of the donation -- as remuneration before transferring the amount to the candidate.
In an Assembly election, the expenditure ceiling for a candidate is Rs 28 lakh.
Many believe crowdfunding has other benefits, apart from transparency. "Candidates would also get an indication of their popularity through the collection," said an observer. The concept of crowdfunding is technically not new. Political parties and candidates have often gone for a door-to-door collection to raise funds to fight elections.
For the first time since elections were held in India after Independence, crowd- Swaraj Thapa funding is slowly catching the imagination of politicians. That the concept has come up even in a relatively small place like Darjeeling, observers believe, is an indication of electoral politics of future.
"I have decided to rely on crowdfunding as I am advocating clean politics, politics of transparency. I have already enrolled myself for crowdfunding and the process should start tomorrow (Saturday)," Thapa told The Telegraph.
There are many websites like OurDemocracy.in, which take up online crowdfunding for elections "There is transparency in the funds collection as every transaction is accounted for," said Thapa. "We are looking at bringing innovation to politics," said Thapa, a former journalist who is supported by the CPRM and the Congress.
Usually, crowdfunding platforms deduct a token amount -- usually 5 per cent of the donation -- as remuneration before transferring the amount to the candidate.
In an Assembly election, the expenditure ceiling for a candidate is Rs 28 lakh.
Many believe crowdfunding has other benefits, apart from transparency. "Candidates would also get an indication of their popularity through the collection," said an observer. The concept of crowdfunding is technically not new. Political parties and candidates have often gone for a door-to-door collection to raise funds to fight elections.
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