'Find own money for election campaigning'; Congress high command tells Kerala candidates

NEW DELHI: The Congress High Command has asked the state PCCs to find funds for election campaigns in the event of income tax freezing bank accounts of the Congress party citing tax arrears.

Travel expenses of star campaigners including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge will also be reduced minding the financial straits. AICC Treasurer Ajay Maken had complained in a press conference that there was no money even to put up a poster. The 25 crores received through crowdfunding have been barred from use by the officials.

The paucity of funds affected the party's campaign across the country. The party has directed the ruling Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana units to mobilize maximum funds. But the money collected in this way is also feared to come under the lens of income tax officials.

Now in logjam over fund blockade, candidates in Kerala have been instructed to find their own money for campaigning rather than waiting for favours from high command.