Interesting slogans and parodies are being witnessed during the campaigning that is at its peak for the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) election. During the campaign trail candidates are using many attractive slogans, parodies based on bhajans and famous Bollywood songs besides adopting unique ways and means to lure the electorate for entering BMC council.
One slogan used extensively in almost all the wards not only by the candidates of arch political rivals the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, but Independent candidates as well, also gained most popularity among the city dwellers of all ages goes like ‘Neta nahi, beta chuniye,’ (elect son, not leader).
A BJP campaigning vehicle decorated heavily with BJP flags and playing famous dua song ‘lab Pe Aati Hai Dua Banke Tamanna Meri’ (my wish comes on my lips becoming my prayer) is also attracting one and all in the walled city. Heads of the passersby turns towards this vehicle for sure on all streets and roads when it passes by.
An independent Muslim candidate from ward number 20 Yusuf Rayeen having his election symbol naav (boat) has come up with a parody on famous bhajan — ‘sab kaam ho rahe hein Ram ji ki kripa se’ by saying I. Independent candidates who have been assigned election symbol ‘hockey stick with ball’ are moving in cars decorated with plastic hockey and ball sets while those assigned with kite symbol are not moving in vehicles decorated with kites but are also distributing kites to children and youth. The prominent election symbol gaining popularity in the city is cake, especially among children who are getting nice pieces of cake to eat in exchange of telling their elders to vote on this symbol from their respective wards.
Independent candidate from ward number 21 Subodh Jain having his election symbol tent is also attracting the people as he is claiming to be candidate of Hindu Congress party. Almost a month-long poll campaigning for the BMC would come to an end on Thursday evening at 5 pm. Over 400 candidates are trying their luck for the new city government polling of that would be held on January 31 to elect a mayor and 85 Corporators. Counting of votes would start in the morning of February 4 and by noon the results would be declared and the state capital would get new city government.