Surgical strike on black money hits election campaign in Shahdol, Nepanagar

BHOPAL: The impact of government withdrawing Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes is expected to deal a major blow to political parties across Madhya Pradesh who are busy in election management for Shahdol and Nepanagar bypoll. Political parties and individual candidates who were counting on cash to fuel the campaigning were suddenly left resource poor after the higher denomination currency became an illegal tender in one stroke.While, Congress openly admit cash crunch in the midst of electioneering in Shahdol, BJP leader are shy to admit, due to various political reasons.
``It's a big blow to the small party workers who was managing campaign of senior leaders and star campaigners in Shahdol and Nepanagar. The workers have to make payments to the contractors and labourers which at present is almost impossible'', said Congress state spokesperson K K Mishra. He said that the election commission has already cautioned on election expenses and the time limit, it was unexpected to the leaders in the middle of electioneering who were now constrained to manage the campaign through their own means.
While, Congress is opposing demonetisation, BJP leaders are keep mum over the problems during their campaigning. ``We have already planned election meeting and the payments done to the contractors for stage, electricity and meals will be through cheque. When major expenses are clear, there seem to be no big problem during elections'', said BJP state vice-president VIjesh Lunawat. However, on condition of anonymity, BJP leaders in Shahdol and Nepanagar admit that unavailability of smaller currency notes has created problems of payments to small time workers and vendors. The party has assured to see to this problem at the earliest.
Sources said that given their campaign strategies, the parties have suffered a lot in their strategy for cash collections and the piles of cash collected so far is now a worthless heap. Situation for regional parties like Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP) are worse. The voting for both Shahdol parliamentary and Nepanagar assembly bypoll is scheduled to be held on November 19, till then the parties have no time to replan their campaigning, courtesy cash crunch.