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In anticipation of the upcoming 2024 general elections, the Congress party, facing financial constraints, is preparing to initiate a nationwide crowdfunding campaign, according to sources within the party. This initiative is set to launch following the assembly elections in five states scheduled for next month, namely Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram, with results expected to be declared on December 3.
To face the BJP in the forthcoming general elections, the Congress has formed an alliance with 25 other political parties and is planning to seek financial support from individuals nationwide, including party members.
As per a recent report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), the Congress party possesses assets worth ₹805.68 crore, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dwarfs this amount with ₹6,046.81 crore in assets.
Notably, corporate donations to Congress have dwindled over the past seven years, while the BJP has seen a consistent increase in such contributions. In the fiscal year 2017-18, the corporate donations received by the BJP exceeded those of all other national parties combined by over eighteen times.
The Congress party’s decision to reach out to the public for donations appears to take inspiration from the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) successful model of online contributions. The AAP had previously employed this approach for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when they faced a financial crunch, although they were only able to secure 52 out of the 545 Lok Sabha seats. In contrast, the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, achieved a resounding victory, capturing 303 seats.
