The Congress party, which has assumed the role of unifier in INDIA Bloc claims it is struggling to launch its poll campaign in the face of IT authorities freezing its bank accounts and imposing ‘disproportionate’ penalties for irregularities in its decades-old tax returns. A report by Mudit Mathur
Leaders of the INDIA bloc, who have decided to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha election unitedly against the growing trends of “dictatorship” under the Narendra Modi-led BJP government, are facing a tough challenge after the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on charges of money laundering in the now scrapped Delhi liquor policy case. The development has upset the plans of the collective campaign strategy of opposition parties aimed at halting Narendra Modi’s march to regain power for the third time in succession in the 2024 elections. Kejriwal’s arrest has become the rallying point for the opposition’s unity to counter the BJP’s alleged quest for an “opposition-free” India
The poll campaign of the INDIA bloc has yet to take off due to the absence of a level playing field, resulting from a resource crunch and the continuous arm-twisting tactics employed by government investigating agencies. However, prominent BJP leaders have been fast-tracking their electioneering efforts, hosting massive public rallies in various parts of the states, often with great extravagance.
The Congress Party, which assumed the role of unifier in INDIA Bloc to consolidate regional political parties under its umbrella, is now grappling with an acute financial crisis as it prepares to launch its poll campaign. Income Tax authorities have frozen its accounts, allegedly imposing disproportionate penalties after discovering irregularities in its decades-old tax returns.
Subsequently, the IT department is anticipated to raise further demands against the Congress party for alleged unaccounted Rs. 523.87 crores from 2014-2021, traced after it conducted simultaneous raids in 52 locations before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls on April 7, 2019, following the directive of Election Commission.
The Congress party in a press conference held by its top leadership including president Mallikarjun Kharge, former president Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi has alleged that democracy in India has been frozen and accused the Modi government of “crippling” the party financially by freezing its bank accounts ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
“A systematic effort is underway by the Prime Minister to cripple the Indian National Congress financially,” said Sonia Gandhi. “Funds collected from the public are being frozen, and money from our accounts is being forcibly taken away. However, even under these most challenging circumstances, we are doing our best to maintain the effectiveness of our election campaign,” she added.
