BJP spends RS 44.42 cr in four months on advertisements ahead of Karnataka polls; reveals RTI
Bengaluru: Ahead of the Karnataka Assembly polls, the previous BJP government spent Rs.44.42 crore in four months between December 1, 2022 and March 29, 2023 on advertisements in the print and the electronic media, The Hindu reported.
The Department of Information and Public Relations revealed the information in response to a Right to Information Act (RTI) query filed by activist Rajesh Krishnaprasad from Puttur.
However, specific details on the names of media houses in which the government spent to place the advertisements were not provided by the department, reports Indian Express.
According to the information received, on print media, the government spent Rs.27.46 crore and on the electronic media, Rs.16.96 crore to promote their initiatives and counter campaigns by opposition parties such as the Bharat Jodo Yatra and Mekedatu March and others.
The BJP lost the elections securing 66 seats, while the Congress won 135.
Krishnaprasad told The Hindu that even though it is typical for any government to spend on such advertisements to raise awareness about its schemes, spending excessive money of taxpayers during elections just to woo voters is wrong.
The activist questioned the expenditure that went nearly Rs.50 crore by the previous government on specifically targeting the opposition party.
“The BJP has spent nearly Rs 50 crore and some of the ads were placed only to criticise the Opposition. How can the government exchequer spend money on this?,” he asked.
“I asked the breakdown of the expenses incurred on various media houses from the information officer, but it was not provided,” he said.
Speaking to The Indian Express, BS Shivanna, Karnataka Congress general secretary described it as a crime and alleged that public money was looted by the Bommai government.
“Generally, the government issues advertisements to publicise its schemes. But BJP used it as a tool politically to counter opposition campaigns. If you see, they gave negative advertisements to shield themselves. The public money has been looted by the previous BJP government,” he said.
On the other hand, Ganesh Karnik of the BJP defended saying the amount spent is not huge compared to Delhi government, who had spent more on government ads and with competitive ad pricing, such costs are common.
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Delhi Polls: BJP faces protest, placates MLA amid resentment over ticket distribution
New Delhi, Jan 12: Resentment surfaced in the BJP on Sunday over ticket distribution for Delhi Assembly polls, with a protest held outside its Delhi unit office and an angry outburst by the outgoing MLA from Karawal Nagar who was not included in the candidate list released a day earlier.
As MLA Mohan Singh Bisht threatened to revolt after being denied a ticket from Karawal Nagar, the party rushed to control the damage and announced his candidature from the Mustafabad seat this evening.
A group of protesters from Tughlakabad in South Delhi held a dharna at the gate of the Delhi BJP office, demanding a change in the candidate from the constituency.
"Vikram Bidhuri Tum Sangharsh Karo; Modi Se Bair Nahi, Rohtas Teri Khair Nahi," the protesters, including mostly youngsters, chanted as the party leaders tried to pacify them.
In the second list of BJP candidates for the polls declared on Saturday, Rohtas Bidhuri was fielded from the Tughlakabad seat. In 2020 Assembly polls, Vikram Bidhuri who is a relative of senior party leader Ramesh Bidhuri, lost to AAP's Sahiram by over 13,000 votes.
A similar protest was also held by some party workers outside the Delhi BJP office against Mehrauli candidate Gajainder Yadav after the announcement of the first list of candidates earlier this month.
Bisht, the senior-most BJP MLA in the outgoing Assembly elected five times from Karawal Nagar, openly expressed unhappiness over being denied the ticket to contest from his stronghold.
A senior party leader said he was pacified after a meeting with BJP chief JP Nadda.
Bisht, after getting the ticket from Mustafabad, expressed confidence that he would win the seat for the BJP.
"I met the national president and things were ironed out. I have assured that I will contest from Mustafabad and win the seat for the party," Bisht told PTI.
The MLA said he and the BJP had considerable support in Mustafabad and he has already attended two public meetings there.
The BJP won the Mustafabad seat, having a significant minority community presence, in the 2015 Assembly polls but lost it to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2020.
Earlier in the day, Bisht told PTI that the party's decision to replace him with Kapil Mishra was "wrong" and its consequences will be visible after voting on February 5.
"You have challenged the 'samaj' (his Uttarakhandi community), not Mohan Singh Bisht. The BJP will lose at least 8-10 seats because of this decision, including Karawal Nagar, Burari, Mustafabad and Gokalpuri," Bisht warned.
The BJP fielded Kapil Mishra, a Hindutva hardliner, from Karwal Nagar in North East Delhi, which was rocked by massive communal violence just after the 2020 Assembly polls.
Sources in the party claimed that there was also "deep resentment" among the Delhi BJP's Scheduled Castes Morcha leaders over being denied tickets from different constituencies including Madipur and Kondli.
A top Delhi BJP functionary stressed that there are many ticket aspirants, so it is natural for those who did not get selected to feel disappointed.
"The BJP is a disciplined party and its leaders understand this. Sooner or later, everyone will realise this and work for the victory of the party giving up their resentment," he said.
The elections to 70 Assembly seats in Delhi are scheduled on February 5. Results will be out after the counting of votes on February 8.
The BJP, out of power in Delhi since 1998, is making all-out efforts to return to power. In the 2015 and 2020 Assembly polls, the party was completely routed by the AAP, scraping through with just three and eight seats, respectively.
