Odisha: Naveen urges BJD MPs, MLAs to donate one-month salary

Bhubaneswar: In view of huge expenditure to be made during upcoming elections in the State, BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik today urged the party MPs and MLAs to donate their one-month salary to the party fund.

In a letter to all the party leaders, workers, legislators and parliamentarians ahead of the BJD’s 21st foundation day celebration scheduled on December 26, Patnaik acknowledged their contribution to the party and their efforts for the State’s development.

He urged the party legislators and members of parliament to donate their one-month salary in a cheque to the BJD fund to make the party financially stronger and to widen the social commitments towards people of Odisha.

He also asked the BJD’s district presidents to request the party’s well-wishers and supporters who want to help the party for raising the funds to donate to the party through cheque or online at www.bjdodisha.org.in/donation.

As per the Section 80GGC of Income Tax Act 1961-2017, the contributions given by any person to the BJD will be tax-free completely, wrote Naveen to his party leaders.

He made it clear that there is no certain limit of cash to be received as the donation and contribution to the party.

Patnaik wrote that the real strength of the party is people’s love. “Because of love and strong support of people, the BJD has emerged as the strongest regional party in Odisha. We are no longer waiting to ask for funds to any national political party for the welfare of the State. The BJD is taking its decision here for the development and welfare of people of Odisha,” he wrote.

He lauded the contribution of the party in blood donation sector.

“The ‘Jeevan Bindu’ programme launched by the BJD on the occasion of late Biju Patnaik’s birth anniversary on March 5, 2015, has now turned a huge tree and a mass movement. The contribution of around 3 lakh blood donors in the programme that saved precious lives of many has given me much satisfaction,” he wrote adding “Probably, we are the only one political party in the country in collecting 3 lakh units blood under the social programme.”