Ahead of UP elections, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav releases QR code for crowdfunding

Synopsis

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav launched a QR code for crowdfunding, 'PDA Swabhiman Sahyog,' on his birthday. This initiative aims for transparent fund collection and deeper connection with ground-level workers, especially from the PDA (Pichda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) community. The party seeks minimum ₹20 contributions to boost public participation and strengthen its organization, echoing a socialist formula to reduce reliance on industrialist funding.

New Delhi: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday launched a QR code for crowdfunding ahead of elections.

Launching the code on his birthday, Yadav termed it 'PDA Swabhiman Sahyog' and said that apart from collecting funds from people in a transparent manner, this would help the party establish connection with ground-level workers.

The party has appealed to people to contribute a minimum of ₹20 and more if they wish to. "This initiative has been launched to increase public participation and strengthen the organisation," Yadav said.

Yadav is banking on the support of PDA (Pichda, Dalit and Alpsankhyak) for the assembly polls next year. The PDA formula met with resounding success in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with SP winning 37 seats while ally Congress won six seats out of 80.

"This is not merely a funding drive but a way to connect with the voter, especially from the PDA group. It's their party and they will have a participation right from funding to ticket distribution and representation," SP spokesman Udaiveer Singh told ET. "This is an old socialist formula. If we want to protect our party from industrialist funding, we will have to go to the people and get funds directly from them."