The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Flags, banners... trade not so shining

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Wednesday, Apr 29, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Flags, banners... trade not so shining

Vidya Venkat

With model code of conduct in force, most artists and party workers are keeping it low key

CHENNAI: Come elections, and the neighbourhood begins to catch the campaign fever. Party flags flutter atop poles fixed on medians, popular leaders smile out of banners put up on street-sides and autorickshaws turn campaign vehicles with the loudspeakers mounted on them playing party songs and recorded speeches. But with the model code of conduct in force, most artists and party workers are keeping it low key.

“The Election Commission is being strict this time and we are not taking any chances either,” says V.Kalidas, south Chennai general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party, who takes up contracts for putting up pandals and making other campaign arrangements for various political parties. “I have lost three-fourth of the volume of job contracts this year compared to what I got during previous elections,” he says.

When parties spend more on campaigning, it is not only these contractors who benefit but the material suppliers too. This time around the situation is different. Kalidas says a number of shops in Royapuram, Washermenpet, Parry’s Corner and Velachery, which generally do brisk business in items such as iron poles, flags and banners, are not getting as many contracts this year as they used to.

Instead of giving orders for 500 poles for the entire length of a road, parties are erecting only 200 poles this time, he says. “Many of the material suppliers are hoping to make more money after the elections when winning candidates would celebrate their victory in a pompous manner.”

Due to his better connections within political circles, Kalidas is able to pull through. He has already bagged some important campaign contracts. A major contract was for setting the stage for a meeting attended by senior BJP leader Venkiah Naidu in the city recently.

Despite the dull business, Kalidas said he offered discounts for his party leaders. CPM cadre Dillibabu is busying himself putting up ‘badges’ (circular posters of party leaders with decorated edges) of S.Ramadoss in Madhavaram and Dayanidhi Maran in Villivakkam ahead of their party campaigns here. “We go for the popular faces from the parties and not just the particular candidate contesting in that constituency. It helps pull the crowds ahead of the campaign visits,” he says.

S. Purushottaman, another campaign contractor, says he is also taking up other odd jobs such as transporting goods. He says he is depending on the PMK and Captain Vijaykanth for better contracts this time. He is getting around Rs.1,200 per contract but not all parties are prompt with payment, he says.

The code of conduct has not completely dented campaign efforts. Seeni Mohammed of Mookambigai Screenworks in Mogappair said they were receiving several print orders for campaign stickers from political parties.

These are the latest efforts from parties to add zing to the election campaign, without violating the code.

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