The fund-crisis in the Congress is apparently continuing. The party has now asked its 112 MPs (in both the Houses) to contribute ₹1 lakh each to the party treasury. Party treasurer Motilal Vora has sent letters to all MPs to submit the amount at the earliest.

Vora has also given the MPs an option of paying through instalments. Those who cannot give ₹1 lakh at one go, can opt for 10 instalments of ₹10,000 each. The party, apparently, is running on over draft from various public sector banks.

Failed to fund elections

Apart from collecting money from MPs, Vora has also asked the general secretaries in charge of various States to find 100 people in each State who can contribute ₹1 lakh to the party. The idea is to raise at least ₹36 crore ahead of the upcoming elections in 2015 and 2016. There are suggestions before the Congress leadership that the mobilisation pattern followed by the party for more than four decades, using fund managers in various States who are closely linked with the big business houses, has to be changed. Those who want a change say that the party should go to the people for money. “This is a step in that direction. That is why we have demanded MPs and general secretaries to raise the money,” a top leader said.

In States like Maharashtra, Haryana and Delhi, party leaders cite the lack of funds as a key reason for the massive defeat. They say they could not match the massive campaign by others such as the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party.

A section of MPs, however, are not satisfied with this drive. “Where has the money gone? This is an old party. Party was in power for the last 10 years. What happened suddenly?” asked an MP, on conditions of anonymity.

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