Refuting the allegations of party candidates making beeline to Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee office and citing Manmohan Singh committee, the Congress party leaders said that every candidate should pass through the process as specified in the committee recommendation. They have to obtain no dues certificate (NoC) before claiming to be a party candidate.
Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Party (CPCC) spokesperson Shailesh Nitin Trivedi said that it is a democratic process adopted by the party as per the recommendations of Manmohan Singh committee given 20 years ago. It is a democratic process. The committee has fixed specific fees for MlAs, MPs, former MlAs, former MPs, party office bearers to the common party worker. The person has to submit the annual subscription for the party fund.
Ram Kumar Agrawal said that MlAs have to submit one month salary for the party, which is around Rs 10,000 while down the party line it could be even Rs 5. The party is providing the form for claiming the candidature, so a clause is to clear all party related dues before making a claim for the candidate. It depends on the party worker and leaders, if they are ready to contribute more. There is no restriction on it. It is all accounted money, he added. Raipur Mayor Pramod Dubey said that it is a natural democratic process of party, as it provides the funds to run the party. Earlier, one party candidate would have to make beeline before the party leaders with more than seven to ten bio-data to make the claim but now, it starts from block level. It would be screened at district-level and then state-level and further higher-up. So, now there is no need to make a beeline behind the senior party leaders. Once submitted at block level, then forms would go through the natural party process.