Lok Sabha Poll mood sets in but sale of campaign material yet to pick up

The shopkeepers here are mainly selling the campaign material for the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP),

lok sabha elections Updated: Mar 15, 2019 15:46 IST
Every poll material is available under one roof but the sale is yet to pick up. The day party announces all the candidates, we hope to get some business. The sale is dull right now(HT)

Setting the mood for elections, a number of kiosks and shops selling poll material have come up outside the Samajwadi Party office headquarters in Lucknow but the shopkeepers are waiting for the announcement of candidates as after this their business actually picks up.

The shopkeepers here are mainly selling the campaign material for the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP),

“The range of campaign material at the shops here is complete with banners, masks, ribbons, cutouts, posters, wristbands, pens, cassettes and CDs, pen drives, stickers, caps and badges,” said Ayushi Srivastava, owner of Ayushi Enterprises.

“Every poll material is available under one roof but the sale is yet to pick up. The day party announces all the candidates, we hope to get some business. The sale is dull right now,” she said.

“We wait for five years for this sort of business. During 2014 Lok Sabha elections, our business had taken a dip due to the strictness shown by the Election Commission. Shopkeepers, designers, printers, labours, transporters, artists and photographers, among others, are involved in the business. If the sale comes down, earnings of all these people suffers,” Sonu Agarwal, a trader, said.

According to shopkeepers, ‘Gathbandhan’ T-shirts, gamcha, handkerchief, turbans and mace are selling.

“In the past, the parties used to name their candidates well in advance which helped us post robust sales. This time, only those people have placed orders who think their ticket is confirmed.”

Sultanpur district president of Samajwadi Party Raghuveer Yadav said, “Although the seat has gone to the BSP, our president has directed us to support them fully. I am here to purchase PVC (polyvinyl chloride) cutouts, flexi board and banners of political leaders.”

Owner of Shubh Mayank Traders Ravindra Agarwal said: “Ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, I sold over 40 cutouts. This time, I am still waiting for orders.”

First Published: Mar 15, 2019 15:46 IST