A judicious mix of traditional electioneering methods with new generation technology, including social media platforms, is being used by the campaign managers to woo voters. But using the popular trains running in Kerala and the public address system in the busy railway stations for electioneering is for the first time in the election history of the country.
Six trains – four of the Thiruvananthapuram railway division and two of the Palakkad division – have turned mobile platforms for electioneering.
The Left Democratic Front has grabbed the opportunity extended by the empanelled advertising firms of the Railways.
Four coaches each of Vanchinad Express, Ernakulam-Kannur Intercity Express, Alappuzha-Kannur Intercity Express, Venad Express, 15 coaches of Eranad Express and 10 coaches of Mangalore-Coimbatore Intercity Express now sport the catchy slogans of the LDF.
Jingles
The 10-second slot after public announcements at Thiruvananthapuram Central, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam Junction and Town railway stations have been given for playing jingles. The commuters can listen to the jingles brought out for the electioneering of the CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan.
For the cash-strapped railways, it was a non-conventional revenue generation as four trains has fetched Rs.20 lakh merely by allowing them to be run as graffiti walls. But, the two trains in Palakkad have not fetched additional revenue as the advertising firm had a running contract.
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager V. C. Sudeesh says there is no restriction on what goes into the vinyl wrapping on the trains.
LDF grabs the opportunity extended by empanelled ad firms of Railways
