Arvind Kejriwal’s tweet for cash earns Rs 80L for AAP in 24 hours
LUCKNOW/VARANASI : In 24 hours after Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal tweeted appealing to people to donate “clean money” for election campaign in Varanasi and Amethi, the party received more than Rs 80 lakh donation online from across the world. Of the total sum, Rs 16 lakh was donated by people in UP including Rs 2.10 lakh and Rs 2.50 lakh specifically for Amethi and Varanasi, respectively.
The AAP has been facing financial crunch in the Lok Sabha elections. At 7.38 pm on Tuesday, Kejriwal tweeted “Reached Varanasi. Will go to Amethi on 20th. Need clean money to fight Modi and Rahul. Pl sms me if u wish to donate.” It was retweeted by his over 1,700 followers within a few hours. Donations started pouring in and till 7.38 pm on Wednesday, the amount collected in 24 hours was Rs 81.10 lakh donated by over 600 people. The minimum donation was Rs 1 and maximum Rs 50 lakh. was donated by one Natasha, resident of Delhi. While several donated Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000, majority donations were between Rs 500 and Rs 5,000. In India, most of the donors were from Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. International donors were mainly from UAE, US, UK and Canada.
“Besides Kejriwal’s appeal, volunteers have launched an aggressive campaign on social media for donation,” said Sudhir Bhardwaj, AAP, UP, spokesperson.
This has come as a relief for Kejriwal who has been struggling for support in Varanasi where he has challenged BJP prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha election. His close associate Kumar Vishwas is contesting against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in Amethi.
Both have been running a low profile and low cost campaign in their respective constituencies. Vishwas started his campaign four months in advance and has been able to build a strong network in Amethi. Kejriwal, however, announced his candidature on March 25 and began effective campaigning from Tuesday (April 16). Amethi will go to polls on May 7 and Varanasi on May 12.
AAP leader Sanjay Singh, also camping in Varanasi, told media persons that the party had adopted the cheapest mode of election campaign due to fund crunch. To save money, the party is depending on interactive sessions in rural areas, street meetings, door-to-door campaign and social media for election campaign. The party is also webcasting public meetings of Kejriwal.
The party, however, is also struggling for support. Kejriwal’s interactive meetings in urban and rural areas are not getting encouraging response in Varanasi as they did in Delhi.
Former central information commissioner O P Kejriwal and Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati have refused to support Kejriwal.
AAP has been facing financial crunch in polls. At 7.38 pm on Tuesday, Kejriwal tweeted “Reached Varanasi. Will go to Amethi on 20th. Need clean money to fight Modi and Rahul. Pl sms me if u wish to donate.”
