It is testing time for the candidates in the fray for the civic polls -- not only from rivals, but from the rising mercury level as well. With polls just round the corner, candidates have started campaigning, and providing the background music to their charm offensive are the captivating sounds of the energetic Punjabi dhols. A wide variety of mid-tempo and up-tempo beats resounding in perfect synchronisation are setting the tone for the campaign trail as candidates and their supporters zip around their wards in flower-bedecked cars or on unwilling mares!
With every candidate aiming to reach out to the voters through extensive padyatras and other ways of personal contact, unique means are being used by each to make this election larger than life. This is providing roaring business to marriage bands and dhol players in the city. Band owners are especially being approached to give an electrifying affect to the campaign.
“These are golden days for drum-beaters of the city, who are much in demand among the RMC poll candidates. For the next fortnight, we have planned to hire more drum-beaters to meet the demands of the candidates for canvassing in their areas,” said Mehboob, the owner of Izrael Band. One of the drum-beaters of Sarbuddin Band said that they were charging the candidates Rs 5000 for two hours for the duration of the campaign period.
After dhols, it is mares on the shopping list of candidates. According to Irshad, the owner of Bachaa Band, “Parvesh Alam of Hindpiri especially hired our decorated mare ‘Dhanno’ for his campaigning. After filing their nominations, two more candidates from different wards have also booked the mare. They have made it mandatory that the mare should be well-decorated and groomed as if it is going for a wedding party.”
Bookings too are looking up, and owners say that within a few days they will have a number of bookings per day. “Yesterday my dhol band had played dhol for two hours for Amit lal, a candidate at Piska More. People invite us as they feel it is the perfect way to start special event!” said Javed a band owner.
Famous names like Hindustan and Anand bands too, confirmed that since the nominations have been filed they have been booked four to five times. Nominees from different wards are also asking the bands to play the latest chartbusters which people enjoy, so that it attracts attention and pushes up their popularity ratings.