BJP to tighten cash flow for candidates - cash flow was being squeezed following an internal assessment that the performance in the third phase

As with everything else in elections, there was no unanimity on the reasons cited

Asked whether the fist was being tightened, Samik Bhattacharya, the chief spokesperson of the state BJP, said: “This information isn’t true.” : File picture

Arkamoy Datta Majumdar   | TT  |  Calcutta   | 10.04.21: The BJP central leadership has decided to tighten the cash flow to its Bengal candidates in the remaining phases, multiple sources in the party told The Telegraph although its chief spokesperson in the state denied such a move.

As with everything else in elections, there was no unanimity on the reasons cited. A section of the party said the cash flow was being squeezed following an internal assessment that the performance in the third phase had not been satisfactory. But others felt that it could be merely to ensure financial prudence.

Asked whether the fist was being tightened, Samik Bhattacharya, the chief spokesperson of the state BJP, said: “This information isn’t true.”

Multiple BJP sources said the party had sent a group of auditors from Delhi to Calcutta last month to keep tabs on the use of the campaign funds.

This was followed by the decision to tighten the purse strings after Tuesday’s vote, they said, referring to the third phase of polling. The fourth phase covering 44 seats is being held on Saturday.

“Our central leaders  had told us that funds wouldn't be a problem in the effort to wrest Bengal from Trinamul, but the condition was that we had to deliver,” a state BJP source said.

“The feedback now is that the performance in the third phase did not go along expected lines despite the heavy spending.”

The source said the party's internal assessment belied Union home minister Amit Shah's public claims of a BJP sweep of the 91 Bengal seats that have voted in the first three phases.

The Election Commission monitors candidates' poll expenses. With Assembly candidates facing a ceiling of Rs 30.8 lakh on campaign spending, nominees of the bigger parties usually hire an auditor to track their election expenditure.

“But I can't recollect any party's central office sending auditors to keep tabs on how its candidates are spending the money provided by the headquarters," a BJP source said.

Another source said an allegation by a section in the party that funds provided by the headquarters "are not spent judiciously" by several candidates might have prompted the move to send the auditors.

None in the party would officially comment on how much money the BJP was providing each candidate with. Sources in the party's Hastings office said the amount differed on the basis of the nature of the constituency and the stature of the candidate.

"The senior candidates are getting more than the newcomers. A candidate who is more popular than his peers and has a better chance of winning may receive more money," a BJP nominee said.

According to the Election Commission's rules, a candidate has to open a new account and carry out all poll spending through this account.

BJP sources, however, said a portion of the money is often given to the candidate in cash for "easy access". "If the candidate is new, the money is sometimes disbursed through the district president," a source added.

While most national parties have their central unit send a part of the poll funds to the candidates, in the case of the BJP this Bengal election the proportion of the centrally disbursed money has been very high, the sources conceded.

Bengal has seen some extravagant campaigning this election, mainly by the BJP. Almost every day, the BJP's national leaders have been flying to the state in chartered flights and checking in at five-star hotels.

The party has booked a sizeable portion of a five-star hotel in Calcutta where these leaders stay and hold daily news conferences.

The poll panel does not impose a ceiling on these expenses, which are not counted as part of the candidates' spending.

An official from the BJP's Asansol organisational district corroborated that the funds flow had slowed. He said the party candidates from his district, whose fates will be decided in the seventh phase on April 26, had so far received "only Rs 10 lakh".

"They are asking me to speak to the leaders but nothing I do will work unless the national leaders give the nod," the official said.

Sources said Shah had asked the Bengal BJP leaders to cut unnecessary expenditure on his helicopter rides too.

Multiple sources said Shah had been furious with some state BJP leaders who were responsible for scheduling his April 7 itinerary.

Shah was in Bengal to participate in road shows in Singur, Domjur, Howrah Central and Behala East. Although these places are not too far from one another, the party had arranged for Shah to travel in a helicopter throughout.

"Amitji was furious. He didn't find any justification for travelling such small distances in a helicopter. He summoned the person in charge of the arrangements and gave him an earful," a party source said.

"Amitji told the person responsible to respect the party's funds. When this person said he had arranged for the helicopter to ensure Amitji's comfort, he got angrier."