Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) “honest” Punjab unit president Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday sought “funds” from the people to contest election against the “rich politicians”. So much so that he went on to share his bank account number for online transfer of money.
Sangrur MP, seeking re-election from the constituency, logged in to the social media to request the people for the financial support to defeat the “rich politicians” contesting against him.
At the same time, Mann said that he need money to get posters printed and to meet other campaign expenses.
“I cannot defeat other politicians, who are rich, without money. I need money to run my election campaign and I seek your financial support. Kindly contribute ‘daswandh’ (one-tenth of your income) to the AAP. Your contribution is a must to keep the corrupt away from politics and to motivate honest politicians like me,” Mann said in the 11-minute video message he shared on his official Facebook page.
“When I receive the required money, I will upload another video telling you to stop sending it. I will be happy to contest the election with your money. I do not have any black money like other politicians and need your immediate financial support,” said Mann.
To justify his demand, he said that he had always raised public issues in the Parliament and will not leave any stone unturned in future also.
“You send the money, any amount — Re one, Rs five, Rs 10, 100, 1000 — and I will do my best,” he added.
Meanwhile, Punjab Ekta Party (PEP) leaders have alleged that since AAP has lost base in Punjab and abroad, it’s bankrupt now. PEP district president Harpreet Bajwa, who resigned from AAP only recently, maintained that AAP received huge funds during the previous election as people, especially the NRIs, had great hopes from it”. But this time around, no one is willing to give money to AAP leaders, who have killed the party for their vested interests,” said Bajwa.
While Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Congress are yet to announce their candidates for the May 19 elections in the state, Punjab Democratic Alliance (PDA) has fielded former AAP leader and singer-actor Jassi Jasraj from Sangrur against Mann.