The BJP is already on the defensive on the issue of electoral bonds which has exposed the nexus between the ruling party and the corporates, raising questions over its misuse of the arms of government to get funds from moneyed people and terrorising opponents within and outside the party into submission.

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This has already exposed the banking system in general and the SBI in particular.

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But the real issue is why the BJP  believes it doesn’t have the upper hand even when the Opposition is divided , leaderless, and dominated by dynasts. Its nervousness is visible in Masharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Assam where it is a junior partner in the alliances or facing the battle with the help of defectors.

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Maharashtra is the classic example  of the nervousness of the BJP. The state elects the largest number of Lok Sabha members (48) after Uttar Pradesh (80). It is also neighbouring  to Gujarat, where the Modi led BJP dominates.

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But  the BJP had chosen to ally  the Shiv Sena, NCP factions, Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and a few other smaller parties. Insiders are questioning whether its brand of Hindutva, image of Narendra Modi may  not be enough to influence the people in the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

The BJP can claim “ char so paar “ seats but in reality it is relying on the dynast of Thackerays, Pawars, Devegowdas, Naidus,Paswans  and many who lead their own party. The BJP under Narendra Modi is allying with the leaders facing ED probes, financial irregularities because it knows that it cannot win the election in the name of Modi and the backing of the RSS, the insider said.

On Thursday , former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi went all-out against Narendra Modi on Thursday, saying there has been a "systematic effort" by him to "cripple" the party financially. She made the statement amid Congress's funds crunch.

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Launching a blistering attack on the PM, she accused him of a "systematic effort to cripple Congress financially" ahead of general election.  She said the funds crunch in Congress is not only affecting the party but also "democracy" as well.

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"On one hand, there is the Electoral Bonds issue, which has been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Electoral Bonds benefitted the BJP hugely. On the other hand, the finances of the principal opposition party - the INC - are under a determined assault. This, we all believe, is unprecedented and undemocratic," she added.

Rahul Gandhi also alleged that the freezing of the Congress's bank accounts has caused so much crunch that the party cannot do campaign work or even buy as much as a railway ticket to send their leaders from one part of the country to another.

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"All our bank accounts have been frozen. We can do no campaign work, we cannot support our workers, we cannot support our candidates...This has been done two months before the election campaign....Our ability to fight elections has been damaged, we have already lost a month," he said at the presser.

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Rahul Gandhi also took a jibe at the Election Commission, calling out their silence amid the Congress's funds crunch. He said that those institutions "who are supposed to protect the demographic framework" are not saying anything.

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"One notice comes from the 90s, another from 6-7 years ago. Quantum amount Rs 14 Lakhs and punishment - our entire financial identity...EC has not even said anything," the Congress MP said.

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