Rising fuel prices, has led to spiral in campaign costs across the state of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. With campaigning reaching a peak in these states that are supposed to go to poll in December, parties are struggling to adjust fuel to their logistics cost.
The rising cost has led to demand for donations from office bearers to relying heavily on social media for campaigning rather cavalcades of jeeps with loudspeakers blaring campaign messages across the states.
Both, the BJP and Congress is relying heavily on social media – WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to reach out to voters and curb poll expenses. The BJP and Congress has also deployed booth-wise party workers to cut logistic cost and increase communication with voters. There are many jeeps with the cash strapped Congress, but no fuel. It has, therefore, asked its district presidents to bear costs of fuel locally.
Madhya Pradesh Opposition leader Ajay Singh blamed the BJP for fuel price rise. "Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is spending government money on his 'Jan Aashirvaad Yatra' and people are forced to pay hefty price for buying fuel," he said.
The BJP is anxious that its vote bank — the urban middle-class might stands most-affected by rising fuel cost and rupee depreciation. BJP president Amit Shah held consultations with Petroleum Minister Dharmindra Pradhan to discuss the issue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to hold an economic review meet this weekend.
The poll process in the five states of Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana is expected to be completed by the second week of December. Sources from the Election Commission (EC) said that it was looking at the possibility of conducting them together.
Recalling the Delhi state elections of 1998 that packed off the saffron party, a senior BJP leader said that people had voted against the party because of rising prices.
"As prices shoot up and products become costlier, the middle class will begin to get angry. Since the middle class dominates urban landscape, it is visible in media. It definitely is cause of worry," he said. However, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said, "For our government, it's always people first. We reduced the VAT by 4% on petrol and diesel immediately."
The BJP hopes to benefit from Raje's decision to reduce VAT by 4% on petrol and diesel. The Congress is banking on contributions by office bearers for the organisation of public meetings and tours. Congress PCC president Sachin Pilot said that the Rajasthan government reduced fuel prices after the Bharat Bandh called by the Opposition.
BJP chief spokesman in Madhya Pradesh Dr Hitesh Vajpayee said that the mood is quite upbeat despite the volatile financial condition. "The reduction in GST has resulted in 15 to 20% drop in prices of key poll material. A T-shirt now costs Rs 200 instead of Rs 250 while cap costs Rs 15 instead of Rs 22. He said that the savings earned due to fall in GST rates are coming quite handy to meet fuel cost which is about 5 to 10% higher.
In Madhya Pradesh, BJP and Congress want to take advantage of sops offered by some petrol pump owners. "Some petrol pump owners offer free breakfast and tea to truck drivers for purchase of 100 litres of diesel. Others are offering a mobile, bicycle, wrist watch for 5,000 litres, and an almirah, a sofa set or 100 gram silver coin for 15,000 litres," said a BJP functionary.
Congress spokesperson in Rajasthan Archana Sharma said that all political parties are affected by rising fuel prices. "Office bearers from booth to state level are generously contributing funds for the pre-poll campaign," she said.
In Chhattisgarh, where Chief Minister Raman Singh is on the second phase of his Atal Yatra, BJP is managing the show on party funds. A senior state party functionary said, "The party may use the 'Vote do Note do' (cast vote, donate money to BJP) policy that was implemented during the 2013 assembly poll."
Congress leader Shailesh Tiwari from Chhattisgarh said that the party is using its own funds to organise corner meetings and constituency rallies. "The party will use social media to cut poll expenses. Major expense is for transportation and campaign material," he added.
Bullion traders, wholesale dealers and transporters of rice, spices, marble and dry fruits from Rajasthan are upset with the rising fuel cost. "Our business is down by 25% because of the falling Rupee," said Kailash Mittal, president of Sarafa Traders Committee, Rajasthan. Airing a similar view, I K Chaddha, president of Jaipur Truck Operators' Union said the Rajasthan government has given some relief by reducing VAT on fuel but prices remain high in Delhi and neighbouring states.
Slamming the Bharat Bandh, Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that rising prices of fuel was a "momentary difficulty" due to the international crisis. He claimed that people understood government's difficulty.
(With Inputs from Zee MP-Chhattisgarh)
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