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‘Poor’ state of affairs in Maharashtra PCC
The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) is seemingly facing an “acute funds crunch”, so much so that it is not able to pay even salaries, allowances, telephone bills and other expenses which aggregate roughly to Rs 15 lakh per month.
The state of affairs has also made the party leaders worry for now about the outcome of the forthcoming municipal elections in the State.
The 40-odd employees of the MPCC are getting salaries after two-three months. In fact, the employees could get their pending salaries just ahead of Diwali only after the matter was sorted out following a meeting between State leaders and AICC office-bearers here.
"About Rs 15 lakh was sent by AICC to MPCC for payment last month," said the sources.
The sources said Maharashtra Industries Minister Narayan Rane, MPCC president Manikrao Thakre and MLC JP Chhajed among others met party president Sonia Gandhi earlier this month and apprised her of the crisis that has befallen the state unit of the party.
The fund crunch is also worrying the party leaders because of the zilla parishad, municipal council and municipal corporation elections which are due between December and February.
Till last year, AICC was getting a very large share of funds from MPCC. The State is expected to raise funds for the Centre, particularly during elections. With elections in five states, including Uttar Pradesh, due next year, the Central leaders are getting jittery.
The Ministers, MPs and MLAs usually raise funds for elections from their home districts. The party contributes only 10-15 per cent of the total expenditure. However, the Cabinet ministers from the ruling Congress are learnt to have expressed their inability to mobilise funds for the elections.
"The MPCC never used to have problems of funds before Prithviraj Chavan had become the Chief Minister. Probably, anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare's movement and slow pace of developmental works in the State have taken a toll on the financial health of the party in the State," the sources pointed out.
