Bengaluru: With demonetisation coming in the way of parties using their money power in elections, its “loan bhagya” time in the Congress, which is busy wooing voters for the still to be announced Nanjangud bypoll with promises of loans from various boards and corporations.
Gearing up to defeat former Revenue Minister, V Srinivasaprasad whose resignation over being denied a place in the state cabinet has led to the bypoll, it has deployed its workforce in villages to identify those who need loans from various boards and corporations, say sources.
Once identified, they are reportedly given application forms of the Dr B R Ambedkar Development Corporation, Valmiki Development Corporation, the SC/ST Development Corporation and Karnataka State Minority Development Corporation among others for on the spot sanction of loans in the range of Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000.
The applicants don’t need to satisfy criteria like belonging to the BPL category, or convince the boards about their ability to return the loans, as the party makes sure they get them, sources reveal. In fact, they may not even have to repay the loans as they may be waived off or repaid by Congress leaders themselves, they claim.
As a result hundreds are reportedly applying for the loans in every village of the constituency and serpentine queues of people hoping to have their loans sanctioned, are now seen before the home of Public Works minister, Dr H C Mahadevappa whose son, Sunil Bose is likely to contest the bypoll.
"This is a good way to woo voters as it does not give rise to any suspicion and no one can point a finger at the state government for misuse of power, " said a party leader.
