In election year, the Gujarat unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has embarked on a fund-raising drive. The only difference is that instead of corporate houses and industrialists, the target of the drive are common people, party supporters and well-wishers, who can donate between Rs500 and Rs10,000.
The donation collection campaign will kick-off on February 11, the death anniversary of party ideologue Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay. It would continue till April 6, the BJP's Foundation day, said officials.
"The donation collection campaign will take place across the state, along with a host of other programmes from February 11. Donations will be collected in denominations of Rs500, Rs1,000, Rs5,000 and Rs10,000," said a BJP official.
Coupons in these denominations have been distributed among BJP workers across the state, which would be given to donors.
State BJP spokesperson IK Jadeja said in a statement that the campaign would help in strengthening the foundations of the country's democracy.
"In addition to mat-daan (votes), the party will appeal citizens for dhan-daan (donation)," Jadeja said.
A BJP worker, however, quipped that the campaign is to show that BJP is a people's party - not industrialists' party. Ahmedabad City BJP president Rakesh Shah said the idea behind the campaign is that a BJP well-wisher or supporter belonging to even the weakest section of the society can contribute to the party.
Shah denied that they have been given any targets for donation collection by the party, saying, "We have been asked to collect the maximum amount possible. No targets have been given."
However, when contacted, Jagdish Bhavsar, convener of Gujarat BJP's Media Cell, said that targets had been given to city and district units of the party.
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