Political parties in Jharkhand use topis, bindis to woo voters

With the Election Commission's strict model code of conduct putting a check on campaigning, political parties have taken the 'bindi' and 'topi' to project their symbols to attract voters.

The BJP is using saffron colour bindis and bracelets for women, caps, badges, sari, kurta, T-shirt, masks and other items to woo voters for its candidates in the 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state. "The items carry messages like 272-plus, Modi for PM, Fund for PM and Vote for Modi. The first lot has already been sent to our district units for distribution among party workers. Some party workers directly purchase T-shirt and sarees embossed with messages," BJP's spokesman Pradip Sinha said. "These items have been made so attractive that they hit voters' mind in less time," Sinha claimed.

The Congress has also taken the same course projecting its achievements, symbols and names of candidates to garner support from the voters. "Party symbol and slogans are embossed on bindis, topi, badges and other items to highlight our achievements, particularly different pro-people acts like Right to Information Act and National Food Security Food Act," PCC General Secretary Alok Dubey said.

"With the strict model code of conduct in force, these are the novel ways to campaign and spread our party's message," he added. 

PCC spokesman Sailesh Sinha said, "We are also using social media to reach out the voters."

Other political parties have also devised their style of campaigning. "We are using motorcycles with the youth riding across the constituencies with party flags, wearing stickers with party symbol, vans fitted with audio songs with filmy tunes and setting up hoardings with the permission of the election commission," Ajsu party vice president Praveen Prabhakar said.

The election commission has already lodged 167 FIRs in connection with defacing private property by the campaigning parties.