BJP Breaking MPs, MLAs to Form Governments Using Funds Collected by ‘Illegal Parties’: JMM

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Central General Secretary Vinod Pandey on Wednesday raised serious questions over the functioning of the Election Commission, alleging that inadequate monitoring of registered political parties has allowed some organisations to operate primarily as channels for collecting funds.

Addressing a press conference at the JMM state office in Ranchi, Pandey alleged that some political parties registered with the Election Commission were functioning like “shell parties” and were being used to collect donations and other funds.

He further alleged that money collected through such parties was being used by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to engineer defections of MPs and MLAs across the country and form governments. Pandey, however, did not present any documents or other evidence in support of these allegations during the press conference.

Questioning the financial activities of parties that are not active on the electoral front, the JMM leader asked how such organisations obtain funds for their purported political and organisational activities when they do not contest elections.

He called for scrutiny of the income, expenditure and sources of donations of such parties, stressing that transparency in political funding and financial transactions is essential for maintaining public confidence in the democratic system.

Pandey alleged that if a political organisation is being created primarily as a vehicle for raising funds and those funds are subsequently used for political defections and government formation, the matter warrants serious investigation.

Linking the alleged activities to money laundering, he demanded an inquiry by central investigative agencies. The JMM also urged the Election Commission to conduct a detailed review of the registration, electoral performance, funding sources, income, expenditure and financial transactions of political parties.

The party said organisations found to be involved in suspicious financial activities should face action in accordance with the law.

Pandey said the Constitution and democratic system provide citizens with the right to form political parties and contest elections, but these rights cannot be misused to facilitate questionable financial transactions or political horse-trading.

He urged the Election Commission to take concrete steps to strengthen oversight of political parties and ensure greater transparency in their financial dealings.

The JMM reiterated that the political funding system must be made fully transparent so that citizens can know where parties receive their money from and how those funds are ultimately used.