BJP’s unit faces allegations of fund misappropriation

T’puram: Even as controversy is smouldering within BJP state unit over the alleged misappropriation of election funds, state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar urged functionaries to be vigilant against ‘fake news’ circulating against the party.Recently, BJP had initiated disciplinary action against three members, including state secretary Anjana Ranjith, amid allegations of fund misappropriation. A section of senior BJP functionaries said the party’s central audit wing caught the state unit leadership after it failed to explain how it spent over Rs 80 crore it received for assembly election-related work. They said the central leadership had sanctioned Rs 400 crore to the Kerala unit for elections, and state and district functionaries allegedly siphoned off a significant portion of the amount.The fund misappropriation allegation arose after some functionaries holding significant party positions repaid their bank loans immediately after the elections. They allegedly invested the money in real estate and bought costly vehicles, prompting members to raise complaints of fund misuse.Chandrasekhar said BJP had not found any financial misappropriation. “Party workers should stay vigilant against the fake news produced by anti-national forces who are envious of BJP’s growth. Disciplinary action at various levels is common in a democratic party. This being an internal party matter does not affect society or media. We have a competent leadership and workers to handle such issues with clarity,” he said on Thursday.Sources said BJP set up a three-member committee led by Kummanam Rajasekharan to look into the alleged fund misappropriation and asked functionaries under the lens to repay the fund or face expulsion from the party.