For Upen Biswas, former additional director-general of the Central Bureau of Investigation who cracked the Rs.800 crore Bihar fodder scam, contesting the Assembly election in West Bengal is an “experiment with honesty.”
Mr. Biswas — fielded by the Trinamool Congress from Bagda in the North 24 Parganas district — claims that all his election expenses are being borne by the people of the constituency.
“I don't have to contribute a paisa, let alone a month's pension, as all my election expenses are being borne by the people of Bagda,” says Mr. Biswas, who unearthed the fodder scam in 1996.
Pitted against Forward Bloc candidate Nirmal Sikdar, Mr. Biswas says the people of Bagda wanted him to contest from their constituency because they wanted someone who would be honest, accountable and transparent.
With more than two lakh voters, the Bagda seat, dominated by the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, was won by Trinamool Congress candidate Dulal Bhar in the 2006 Assembly election.
Overwhelmed
Mr. Biswas says he was overwhelmed by the support from people who were pouring money into his election fund, adding that he has received personal donations of up to Rs.30,000.
“Apart from declaring my election expenses during the filing of nomination, I will put my entire election account on the web so that people can know the source of the money,” he says.
‘I'm a lone ranger'
Mr. Biswas adds: “I didn't take the decision to join politics — the people of Bagda and the Trinamool Congress compelled me…In my long career as a policeman, I have seen the murky world of politics and have tried in vain to fight it. What I couldn't do as a policeman, I want to do as a politician. I know I am a lone ranger, but I want to cleanse politics of filth.”
Asked if he would survive in politics, the former police officer quips: “I have guerrilla training and know survival techniques better than many others.”
On the donations that Mr. Biswas has received, a senior EC official says that although people can donate for election purposes, every paisa spent for the poll will be treated as the election cost of the candidate.
“Moreover, any donation above Rs.10 will have to be authorised by the candidate, and if the amount is more than Rs.20,000, it should go into the candidate's account. The donor will either have to pay by cheque or the candidate will have to give him a receipt,” the official says.
