With the Election Commission tightening the noose on election expenditure due to which the candidates of civic polls have started campaigning within the capped amount but in the process, those traders who were anxiously waiting to make a fortune out of the polls this year have been left disappointed.
The Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) election in the capital city has witnessed many changes as gone are the days when the political parties and the candidates contesting elections were offering chairs to sit, serving eatables to the audience and ace folk singers and dancing parties regaled the crowd with lively singing and sparkling one-liners. But the entertainment is missing this time.
With an expenditure limit of Rs1.5 lakh on every candidate, the Election Commission's expenditure monitoring division is keeping tab on each penny spent, the elections are not only straitjacketed in terms of campaigning but are also a low-profile affair this time.
The tent house owners from the city this year are really dispirited. Most of them have not been booked for the campaigning purpose. Beauty Tent House owner, Sarfuddin said, “Still no booking has been done for poll campaigning. No candidate is turning to hire tents, chairs, stages and loudspeakers for civic polls.” On the other hand many tent house owners are not taking business for civic polls.
Delhi tent house owner said, “We do not supply things for election purpose as the people annoy a lot while paying the rent. Its better we wait for the marriage season to come than we will make money. Many times candidates ditched at the last moment.”
Elections in the state are usually marked by many rounds of feasting. Any occasion in Ranchi is good enough for a feast but this time, there is no rise in demand for Khassi ( goat meat), rice or other items that are necessary for organising feasts.
“Earlier in the capital city, the norm during election time was to throw a buffet in which several kinds of sumptuous foods were served, but this year candidates are providing only refreshment of tea and samosas,” said Umesh Kumar, owner of lucky caterers. Numbers of caterers from the city said that they were waiting, when the candidates will approach them and place bulk orders.
Singers and dance troupes were always in a great demand during the election time but this year they are seeing a low-spirited business. “Earlier, the singers and orchestra troops were booked in advance of the election but this time, there is no such booking,” said Sashikant, director of Shobh Shiv Event ,an event management agency in Doranda.
Not all businessmen are unhappy with the strict monitoring. Whoever is complaining about elections, florists in the capital city are not among them. Indeed, the election has come as a boon for them with sales jumping in recent weeks as the campaigning gathered momentum.
Florists Hari Malakarand said, “Business has really picked up.” Kutchery-based Hari further added, “When the civic poll nominations started, right from day one, supporters of various candidates came to my shop. All the marigold garlands are getting sold fast. So, I put up a kiosk opposite the Collectorate for the convenience of supporters. Business is booming even more.”
But campaigning on the deafening loudspeakers is also missing. Only a few loudspeaker fitted rickshaw blaring patriotic songs and campaigning for a particular candidate are found. Candidates will also have to give a detailed account of the overall expenditure on the conclusion of the polls.