Revelation of Rs 4.5 crore reaching Poonjar for BJP; two local leaders misled me, says P C George

KOTTAYAM: BJP leader P C George has backtracked from his earlier statement that Rs 4.5 crore had reached the Poonjar constituency for the BJP's election campaign. His earlier disclosure had raised questions, particularly since the maximum amount that can be spent in a constituency for an election is Rs 40 lakh.

The BJP state leadership had expressed displeasure over the remarks. Following this, P C George changed his stand. George now says that he does not even know what the election fund in Poonjar was, and that two local BJP leaders had misled him by telling him that Rs 4.5 crore had been received.

‘After my speech, the party leadership itself showed me the accounts. Even an expenditure of Rs 100 had been recorded. I was convinced that nobody had stolen any money. The money was handled by BJP leader Saji. He is an honest person. He is not someone who would pocket even five paise. What I said in Erumely is not correct. I tender an apology for that,’ said P C George.

George had alleged in a speech in Erumely last month that there had been misappropriation of election funds within the BJP. He had claimed that the BJP leadership had provided Rs 4.5 crore for Poonjar and that party leaders had siphoned off the money. He had also said that he had asked for the accounts after the election, and that if the accounts given to him were shown to BJP workers, it would be embarrassing for them.