Use of black money in elections inevitable - Gowda

Former Prime Minister and JD (S) supremo H D Deve Gowda has revived the debate on use of black money in elections by emphatically claiming that political parties cannot face elections without financial help from the business community.

“No party can face the elections without black money. Whether it is the Congress, BJP, JD (S) or any other party, all are dependent on the money from businessmen to fight elections”, said Gowda while addressing a convention of former legislators in Bangalore.

Gowda, whose JD (S) is engaged in a bitter electoral battle with his friend-turned foe Siddaramaiah in the December 4 by-elections to the assembly from Chamundeshwari constituency in Mysore near here, virtually pleaded helplessness in curbing the role of black money in politics.

“I don’t know whether to blame to the voters or the politicians for the role black money plays in elections. Businessmen usually stake their money on the horse that is likely to win the electoral race. The weaker parties are treated like beggars and have to settle for crumbs”, Gowda said.

Gowda even veered towards corruption among politicians during his address. “Everyone associates politicians with corruption irrespective of the political party they belong to. A politician will be ready to go to any extent to politically finish his rival. But, all politicians cannot be branded as corrupt. There are honest politicians too. But, there is no system to identify these honest legislators”, Gowda said.

Gowda's observations on black money in politics comes in the midst of the heat and dust kicked up by high-voltage campaigning for Chamundeshwari assembly constituency where is party is pitted against Siddaramaiah, who is now with the Congress.