In poll bound states, netas give shaves, baths for free

HYDERABAD/JAIPUR: Telangana Rashtriya Samiti candidate and sitting MLA Koram Kanakaiah is on the campaign trail, accompanied by a small group. Between speeches and public meetings, he stops on seeing a young man taking a bath and rushes to him. Kanakaiah pours water on the man as his supporters smile approvingly.

TRS candidate K Kanakaiah Yellandu gives a voter a bath

Across Telangana, Rajasthan and the other states going to polls later this year, candidates have been trying to find ways to connect with voters without breaching the expense limit set by the Election Commission. Some of these methods are whimsical, others funny, a few plain weird.

While instances of distribution of cash have been brought to the Election Commission’s notice, what does not come under the model code of conduct is campaigning by taking part in the daily chores of voters. Elections in Telangana are scheduled for December 7. TRS candidate from Mahbubnagar and sitting MLA Srinivas Goud has been working with labourers at construction sites. On other days, he can be seen sewing clothes at machines with women, or helping other women carry pots of water.

TRS candidate Srinivas Goud tries his hand at stitching

Feeding people by literally putting food in their mouths has become a favourite. Assembly speaker Madhusudhana Chary, who is seeking reelection from Bhupalpalle, has been spotted feeding a man, and elsewhere touching a prospective voter’s feet. He also turned up at a barbershop and shaved one’s beard.

Telangana speaker Madhushudhana Chary feeds a voter

Youth Congress president Anil Kumar Yadav, son of Congress’ former Secunderabad MP Anjan Kumar Yadav, is making his electoral debut from Musheerabad, and his approach has been to stop and participate in whatever activities people are doing, even making dosas at restaurants and stalls.

Youth Congress leader Anil Kumar Yadav is wooing voters through their stomachs

Other candidates have been posting photographs online which show them ironing clothes.

TRS candidate Shankar Naik leaves no stone unturned ahead of Telangana polls on December 7

Campaigning is yet to officially begin in Rajasthan for elections scheduled on the same date as Telangana. In Jaipur’s Sanganer constituency, Pushpendra Bharadwaj has found a unique means to spread his campaign slogan — through the classic 1970s film ‘Deewar’. Bharadwaj, a Congress ticket aspirant, has dubbed the famous scene between Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor featuring the line ‘Mere paas ma hai’. In the dubbed video clip, Bachchan is seen asking Kapoor if the latter knew of anyone who could solve Sanganer’s problems. Kapoor replies, “Pushpendra Bharadwaj.”