While the state readies itself to battle it out at the Hustings Dethis cember, Ahmedabad’s garba revellers have more than nine nights’ fun to look out for during the Navratri festival that kicks off on October 16.
While the state readies itself to battle it out at the Hustings Dethis cember, city’s garba revellers have more than nine nights’ fun to look out for during the Navratri festival that kicks off on October 16. It promises to rain freebies this Dandia Raas at sheri garbas.
With an eye on assembly polls, ticket aspirants and political parties are all set to use the festival as their launching pad for the campaigning and will not tighten their purse strings while spending for it. And since the parties have not finalised their candidates for the seats, aspirants can easily evade the eyes of Election Commission for the expenses they incur in the name of their respective parties.
Also, it will be almost impossible for the election watchdog to keep a track of such ‘self promotions’ at all the sheri garba venues.
Despite candidates not being finalised, the nine-night festival gives the aspirants a golden opportunity to get in touch with the local workers, supporters and likely voters. Keeping this in mind, political parties as well as their soldiers are believed to be getting ready to sponsor Navratri festivals in their respective strongholds to ensure full support of the voters.
The parties and probable candidates will spend money on winner’s prize, snacks, banners and gifts to the revellers. “There is a precedent of giving token gifts to every reveller in the sheri garbas. This year, many ticket aspirants are likely to sponsor such gifts,” said a political activist.
“The candidates may get sponsors to place banners expressing ‘best wishes’, ‘congratulations’ and ‘thanks’. Moreover, they can also place banners in their own name as candidates’ expense of campaigning starts from day of filling nomination,” said a senior BJP leader.
Echoing similar sentiments, one of the BJP corporators from AMC’s central zone said that he is planning to place banners in various pols of his areas during Navratri. “We cannot campaign for any particular person, but nothing stops us from campaigning for our party,” he said.
Aspirants will also visit various societies during the festival to create rapport with the local residents. Moreover, it will also give an opportunity to widen their reach at the local level. “Generally, people invite us for aarti and garba in their areas and we favour them by visiting their garba venue. However, this time we will approach them and try to get their favour,” said one of the aspirants from Congress.
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