During elections, allegations of candidates luring voters with promises and buying votes often hit the headlines. But, voters willingly giving away money to a candidate to fight the election is something never heard of.
Believe it or not, such an incident has occurred in Buthipadar village under Birmaharajpur Block of Odisha's Sonepur district where people came forward to help a candidate contesting the Panchayat polls, ostensibly to see him victorious.
Congress Zilla Parishad candidate from the region, Rajgopal Panigrahi was campaigning at Buthipadar village when the residents reportedly asked him to renovate the village temple if at all he wanted their support.
But Panigrahi told them that he didn't have money even to meet his poll expenditure. At this, the villagers collected money with whatever donations they could get.
Later, they handed over the entire amount to Panigrahi with a view that the money will help him canvass. And in the event he emerged victorious, he would work for their betterment.
"I told them that I don't have the money to renovate the village temple. The villagers said they consider me to be a good leader and wanted me to win the polls. They also assured me to extend every possible help and even collected money among themselves to foot my poll expenditure," said Panigrahi.
"After comparing all the candidates in the fray, we found him (Panigrahi) the best among the lot. We hope he will work for the welfare of people. And, that is why we thought of helping him out," said a resident of Buthipadar.