The Congress launched its maiden crowdfunding campaign to support its Molkalmuru candidate Dr Yogesh Babu to defeat Sriramulu.   

"The Congress Party will be launching its maiden crowdfunding campaign today to support our Molkalmuru candidate, 33-year old, Ph.D. Scholar, Dr Yogesh Babu, a product of @IYC, & contesting against BJP's mining mafia (sic)," Congress' Karnataka unit tweeted. 

Who would you vote for? A "mining mafia", or a scholar with a desire to serve the society & transform lives? INC is launching its first crowdfunding campaign to support its candidate Dr Yogesh Babu. Contribute to clean politics: #CleanPoliticsWithINChttps://t.co/MEQOUx4qvM pic.twitter.com/t8gV1pAfX4

— Congress (@INCIndia) May 7, 2018

Online crowdfunding in India was initiated by the Aam Aadmi Party for the 2014 Delhi Assembly elections and it has been a successful model to raise money for the campaigns. 

During the Gujarat elections held last year, Independent candidate Jignesh Mevani from Vadgam constituency also turned to a crowdsourcing platform to fund his electoral campaign.

Irom Sharmila's Peoples' Resurgence and Justice Alliance had also taken to online crowdfunding to raise funds for the Manipur Assembly elections.