It’s bizarre but true! Politicians not only ditch their electorates during campaigning but also the poor traders dealing in the election materials. Majority of the leaders after rendering the services rarely compensate them as a result of which the irked traders this time have shifted their priority from preparing election materials towards religious materials keeping in mind Ramnavami and Sarhul.
Until few years ago, election season were something labourers of state capital counted on for brisk business but this time it is vice versa. The market which used to buzz with publicity materials such as flags, caps and strips well ahead of campaign start has become a blue moon this time. Instead, the triangle flags with impression of lord Hanuman in between especially used during Ramnavami and white and red stripped flags used during Sahrul has been found hanged all around the shops.
Abdul Sattar Chaudhary a tailor at Rangrej Gali from past ten years has been stitching flags for Congress party. Explaining his ordeal said, “From past few elections I had to incur huge losses. The party members made me to stitch the flags in bulk but at time of payment they turned their faces. Whenever I asked for my money I received only empty words in return.
Election season is an opportunity for us to earn extra bucks but I had to suffer huge loss it. So this time I am giving priority to religious material over them as the risk of money loss is very low in it.”
like Chaudhary there are many other tailors too who shared the same story and as a result none of them have kept any stock ready. “Right now I am busy in preparing flag for Sarhul, a festival of tribal people which falls on April 2. None of the political party has approached yet and I am happy if they maintain a distance. We are obligate to deliver the order if placed by any party,” said Sunil, another tailor in at the same area.