AAP's got the spirit but where is the money for campaigns?

Barmer: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader ArvindKejriwal may be having dinners to raise funds, but in theback-of-the-beyond seats like this, the party’s candidateshave been left to fend for themselves when it comes to raisingmoney for running their campaign.

It is a David versus Goliath fight for AAP candidate MangiLal Gaur here as he is contesting against three strongcandidates with his enthusiasm only given that funds aredifficult to come by in this area where elections aredominated by caste equations.In the absence of any election paraphernalia like postersand banners, one has to ask for directions to reach thenondescript residence of Gaur. There was no hustle-bustle orhordes of supporters cheering him outside.

[caption id=“attachment_80653” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image[/caption]

A decrepit Mahindra Jeep parked outside the house istestimony to the limited means with which Gaur plans to takeon former Union Minister Jaswant Singh, three-time MP Col(retd) Sonaram Chaudhary and sitting Congress MP HarishChaudhary.

“We do not have funds for fuel. The party has asked me toraise funds by asking for donations and not depend on them.
“Lifelong, I have not asked for a single penny fromanyone, so it is difficult for me now… I am fighting theelections to make a point against corruption,” Gaur, a retiredadditional district judge, told PTI.

Sitting in the verandah of his two-room rented house, theanti-corruption activist says the constituency has at least2,000 booths with over 16 lakh voters spread over an area of71,601 square kilometres which is larger than the size of SriLanka.
“To reach all these people, one needs transportation andmodes of communication like posters, banners, etc. We aretrying to manage on our own but the means are really limited,“he said.

The 64-year-old activist says he was associated with theAnna Hazare movement in Jodhpur and later joined AAP when itwas founded by Kejriwal.

Gaur also started ‘Jan Chetna Evam Bhrashtachar UnmoolanManch Rajasthan’ from which platform he kept raising the issueof corruption in social schemes run by the government.

“I quit AAP in February 2013 as I was appointed the Lokpalhere for MGNREGA. This year, AAP approached me to contest thepolls from here after which I quit the Lokpal job,” he said.His wife, who is keenly listening to the conversation,chips in and says, “It is good to raise your voice, butwithout money how will you take it forward?”. Gaur becomessilent.

Prodded further, he says he once thought of withdrawinghis candidature, but decided against it as that would havebeen running away from the problem.He said that the AAP district coordinator, Ranveer Bhadoo,is also trying to arrange vehicles for campaigning, but thatis proving to be an uphill task.

“I had to borrow Rs 25,000 for the election deposit frommy neighbour. That has to be returned after elections. Thereare party volunteers and they are doing their best but thetask is huge and we are against money and muscle power ofnational parties,” Gaur said.When asked about the attention given to high-profileconstituencies like Varanasi, Amethi, Chandigarh and ChandniChowk by the party, Gaur said a request has been made forKejriwal to pay a visit to Rajasthan, but the AAP leader wasyet to get back.

“National parties have all the resources. During polls,elaborate arrangements are made for volunteers by nationalparties wherein not only food but liquor, opium, etc. are alsooffered to them.“We certainly cannot do that, but we are trying to conveythe message that there is an alternative,” he said.

Gaur said the area suffers from problems like lack ofconnectivity, water, absence of rural electrification, health facilities, etc. but these issues do not get highlightedduring elections, which are contested primarily on the basisof caste equations.

“National parties know this and exploit it to theiradvantage,” he added.The pleasantries exchanged at the time of parting are
interrupted by a call from a stranger. The caller speaking inUrdu introduced himself as an AAP member and congratulated
Gaur for deciding to contest.

“Aap contest karo. We will collect funds. Boond boond karghada bharta hai,” the caller says before ending the call.Gaur’s face lights up as he readies for a long day ahead.

PTI