While distribution of money by candidates to woo voters ahead of elections might not be uncommon, in the sugar-rich Hatkanangale constituency in Maharashtra, sitting MP and farmer leader Raju Shetti collects cash from voters to fund his poll campaign.
Shetti says under the unique 'One Note, One Vote' campaign, he asks voters, who are predominantly farmers, to give him their vote and also any one currency note of the denomination of their choice to help him represent them in the Parliament.
According to Shetti's aide, all the funds collected under the campaign are accounted for and its details are submitted to the Election Commission (EC).
Shetti, who had won his maiden assembly election in 2004 and then went on to win the Lok Sabha polls from Hatkanangale seat in 2009 and 2014, is contesting his third general election from the same constituency in Kolhapur district as a candidate of Swabhimani Paksha. He is a part of the 'maha aghadi' (grand alliance) of the Congress and the NCP.
"Generally candidates use money power to win the election, by distributing it ahead of polling. In every election, high-value notes are being distributed. But contrary to it, I accept notes from people, because I decided to be a public representative for farmers' cause and I never made any personal gain out of my position," Shetti told PTI.
Coming from a humble family of farmers, Shetti was drawn towards the Sharad Joshi-led Shetkari Sanghatana, which worked for the issues of farmers and the agrarian crisis.
"My initial political training was based on such ideological foundation, that I never got attracted to money and muscle power. I started investing in people, started connecting with active groups in various villages and thus I build a group in the western region of Maharashtra, which is rich in sugarcane," he said.
"As I have continued my fight for getting better rates for sugarcane growers, I never made any financial gains out of it. But during the days of campaign for election, I need funding for rallies, vehicles and other related issues. Thus, I came up with the idea of seeking one note and one vote from the farmers," Shetti added.
"In every rally, I appeal to people to give me one note of the denomination of their choice and also their vote if they want him to continue his fight for their rights," he said.
Shetti has been using this crowd-funding method from his first Lok Sabha election.
"The details of the money collected are submitted to the ECI every time. The collection in the first Lok Sabha campaign (2009) was Rs 44 lakh and it jumped to Rs 64 lakh in 2014 election. It is the biggest contribution in Shetti's overall poll expenditure," a close aide of Shetti said.
Before 2009, Hatkanangale seat was represented by NCP's Nivedita Mane. This time, Mane's son Dhairyasheel is contesting against Shetti on the Shiv Sena ticket.
Election to Hatkanangale Lok Sabha constituency will be held on April 23.
"I generally contest against candidates who are owners of sugar mills or backed by them. The mills symbolise money and muscle power. People feel empowered when they give their money for my campaign. It makes them feel that I belong to them," Shetti said.
Of the six assembly segments in Hatkanangale Lok Sabha seat, Shahuwadi, Hatkanangale and Shirol constituencies are with the Shiv Sena, Ichalkaranji and Shirala in Sangli district are with the BJP, while Islampur assembly segment is represented by NCP's state unit chief Jayant Patil.
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