Preparations for the forthcoming BJP National Convention in Indore are underway.

The party conclave later this month will be held in tents, five-star tents though, all in the name of austerity. But the party knows the event will be an expensive affair. (Read: BJP's austerity drive backfires?)

On Tuesday, the party's big guns accompanied by the workers took to streets in the city to collect donations for the meeting.

"We are collecting donations from the public for funding our conclave," BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargi.
 
Though the BJP has held conclaves in tents before, this is the first time it has resorted to such desperate measures.

Primarily because Gadkari's idea of an austere conclave had assumed luxurious proportions. Five-star tents will need huge infrastructure, which means huge costs.

The Opposition says this donation collection move in a state ruled by the BJP smacks of a conspiracy.

"How can this be happening? The whole thing is a scam operated by BJP leaders. Donations are going to be a cover for money spent by the exchequer," said Congress leader Pramod Tandon.

Many BJP leaders had opposed the idea of living in tents for the three-day conclave. But now, asking the public to fund a party conclave is raising eyebrows.