AP political parties hit hard by recession

March 12: Electioneering in the time of recession is tough business, or ask politicians of the state.
This time around, they are finding it difficult to get big donations from businesspersons and contractors for their campaign.
The Congress managers have been urging contractors to donate liberally for the campaign as “payback” for the deals they secured during the party’s rule.
But the fact remains that the government had stopped payments worth Rs 3,400 crore to contractors citing financial crunch.
Now the contractors, particularly those that have taken up irrigation works, are asking the Congress leaders to clear their pending bills if they want hefty contributions for the polls.
The Congress is somehow managing to collect funds, since it is holding the reins of the state, but the opposition Telugu Desam is finding it a Herculean task to get money from businessmen.
When the Telugu Desam contacted some of its old friends, it found its dismay that they had already shifted loyalty to the Congress.
Some erstwhile TD “allies” including Matrix, RAK, Navayuga, Nagarjuna, and Lanco groups have moved to the Congress camp.
Madhucon and Sujana groups have a good rapport with the TD but they are finding it difficult to contribute liberally because of the downturn.
The condition of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti is even worse since its attempts to woo the big industrialists failed.
Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao made things worse by threatening corporate educational institutions.
Megastar Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam was facing acute fund shortage but things have become slightly better after the merger with Mr Devender Goud’s Nava Telangana Party which is cash-rich.
It is learnt that many contractors and businessmen have even changed their mobile numbers and have given strict instructions to the office staff not to reveal it to outsiders to stave off politicians seeking
money.