BSP bucked trend, ended up richer by Rs12 cr after the 2009 elections.
‘Dalit ki Beti’ Mayawati is known for her out-of-the-box politics — be it striking a unique Dalit-Brahmin-Muslim formula to sweep the 2007 Uttar Pradesh (UP) assembly election or installing statues of Dalit leaders, including her own, across the state in an attempt to leave a lasting impression on the voter’s psyche.
So, it was no surprise when an RTI query by DNA revealed that her Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) bucked the trend and added around Rs12 crore to its coffers during the 2009 LS polls.
Normally, parties end up with lighter pockets after polls as they go all out to win.
On March 2 last year, when the election commission (EC) announced the poll, BSP officially had Rs188.18 crore, making it one of the richest parties in the country.
According to an affidavit submitted to EC, the party received Rs33.16 crore in donations during the nearly one-month-long poll process. BSP claims it spent only about Rs21.23 crore on the election and ended up richer by Rs11.93 crore after it, an unusual phenomenon and a reflection of Mayawati’s unique style of politics in which candidates have to spend their own money.
The affidavit also reveals several other characteristics of Mayawati’s functioning — BSP spent no money on individual candidates, expenditure was controlled by the party headquarters in New Delhi, its state units officially did not spend a penny and all expenses were controlled by her trusted treasurer and Rajya Sabha member Ambeth Rajan.
The party spent most money on chartering aircraft. It paid Rs2.44 crore to two aviation firms — Rs2 crore to Delhi-based Helios Aviation and Rs39 lakh to Mumbai’s OSS Air Management — but “did not” spend anything on travel of party workers.
The other big expenditure, Rs4.94 crore, was on cut-puts, hoardings, banners, flags, arches and gates. BSP also spent Rs2.91 crore on printing manifestos, pamphlets, booklets, posters, handbills, etc, and Rs2.21 lakh on newspaper and magazine advertisements, but “nothing” on publicity through the electronic media.
It also “did not incur any expenditure” on public meetings and processions and “making and distribution of video films”, but spent Rs26.83 lakh on making and distributing audio cassettes.
It spent Rs10.27 crore on running party and campaign offices, and Rs31.40 lakh on tents, mikes, photos, food and catering, transportation expenditure, helipad expenditure, etc. Rs11.3 crore of the total expenditure of Rs21.23 crore was released by way of cheques and Rs7.76 crore in cash. Rs2.14 crore was “unpaid” till the filing of the affidavit.
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