Key Points
The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) has asked candidates aspiring for party tickets in the Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly elections to deposit Rs 50,000 each for supply of campaign materials..
Pattnayak said the OPCC is open to accept cheques of Rs 50,000 from shortlisted candidates on behalf of the party to supply branding and campaign materials of an equivalent value to them...
The Congress state leadership justified the collection of funds from candidates and maintained that it was being demanded so that there is a smooth flow of election materials during campaigning..
"The cheques will be returned to aspirants who do not get tickets after candidates are finalised," Pattnayak said.. Senior Congress leader and MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati justified the decision stating that Congress candidates will have to make certain sacrifices for the party...
