The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Drop in here for the right cap

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 11, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Drop in here for the right cap

J.S. Ifthekhar

Come elections, workers of different parties land at Mohammed Cap Mart in Hyderabad

Hectic activity since poll notification is issued
Over 200 tailors busy preparing poll material

— Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

Poll mania: Workers arranging the election material of various political parties at Mohammed Cap Mart in Patharghatti.

Hyderabad: It’s really time to go cap in hand - canvassing support. And what better place to get outfitted with the right headgear than Mohammed Cap Mart (MCM). The hoary shop at Patharghatti is a beehive of activity as the time has come to keep the five yearly date with democracy.

Picture of harmony

Elsewhere they might be at each other’s throat, here workers of different parties rub shoulders shopping for the election material.

The shop itself presents a picture of harmony with flags and buntings of rival parties fluttering together. Mohammed Ilyas Bukhari has converted the entire ground floor into an exclusive election material shop.

It is a must halt for candidates having a go at the hop, jump quest for power. Caps, T-shirts, flags, kanduvas and buntings of almost all major political parties are available here.

Ever since the election notification was issued, the MCM is buzzing with activity. “For the last six months we have started making caps and other election paraphernalia,” says Ishaq Bukhari, the proprietor’s son.

At any given time, MCM stocks a minimum of one lakh caps, T-shirts, flags, buntings of Congress, TDP, BJP, CPI, CPI (M), TRS, MIM and the latest entrant – Praja Rajyam. Nearly 200 tailors are busy at its Lakadkot factory in the old city manufacturing the election material.

The fastest moving item is the cap. And it comes as cheap as Rs. 7.50. A VIP cap costs Rs. 15 and embroidered one Rs. 30. Of course the party name, logo and the leader’s image is inscribed on it. T-shirts cost Rs. 40 and VIP ones Rs. 70. The party flags come in three sizes – small costs Rs. 4.75, medium Rs. 8.50 and large Rs. 17 while Kanduvas are available for Rs. 7.50, Rs. 16 and Rs. 50 depending on the variety. A bundle of 10,000 buntings comes for Rs. 2200. T-shirts carrying pictures of PR leader Chiranjeevi are a big hit.

While the material is usually acquired in bulk by parties, small traders from districts also lift stocks from here. Once the parties finalise their candidates, MCM expects the sales to go through the roof.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh