BJP expense filing reveals payments to several social media influencers amid controversy
BJP's poll expense report to the Election Commission lists payments to influencers like Sayak Chakraborty and Sukanta Kundu, prompting questions about paid political campaigning.
Election-commission filings by the BJP disclosed that the party paid several prominent social-media influencers during the January-May pre-poll period. Sayak Chakraborty confirmed receiving Rs 2.5 lakh for two videos—one countering false messages about “SIR” and another questioning Prime Minister Modi’s wartime silence—and denied any link to the earlier Olypub meat controversy. YouTuber Sukanta Kundu of “letsbeconfused” said he was paid Rs 7.5 lakh between March 15 and May 6, arguing that paid political campaigning by influencers is routine across parties.
The data also shows a Rs 13 lakh payment to content creator Shamik Adhikary, who is under investigation for sexual assault, though no court verdict has been reached. Repeated outreach to other names on the list, such as Iti Karmakar, yielded no response, leaving many identities unverified. Critics question the transparency of such remuneration, while the influencers maintain the payments were legal and unrelated to any controversies.
Why it matters
The disclosures highlight how political parties use paid influencers, raising concerns about transparency and the influence of social media on elections.
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