Bhubaneswar: Ahead of the state and general elections, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik seems to be focusing on filling the coffers of the BJD anticipating that huge funds would be needed for campaigning.
The BJD supremo has Monday asked all party MPs and MLAs to consider contributing their one month salary to the party.
In his letters to party office-bearers, the CM has instructed district unit presidents to jump on to the bandwagon to widen the spectrum of public donations and to urge the public to liberally donate to the party.
The BJD president has mentioned in his letter that donations to the party are exempted from I-T. The CM has asked everyone to donate to the party through cheques and other open modes and has also asked the donors to obtain certificates of donation from party office-bearers.
The Chief Minister also set a target for the party activists to add at least 200 new members from their respective panchayats and wards.
Meanwhile, the Congress has attacked the BJD’s donation drive. Odisha Congress party chief Niranjan Patnaik said the BJD chief has ample funds and the exercise is intended to deceive the public.
Taking on the Congress, BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb said that donations were sought to strengthen the party in view of its upcoming Foundation Day.
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