Before the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation election will come a literal battle for aerial supremacy. Political parties in Mumbai hope to dominate the skyline on Sunday with party colours flying high in the form of kites, on the occasion Makar Sankrant, the festival of kites.
Updated at 11.25 pm
Renni Abraham and Agencies
MUMBAI: Before the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation election will come a literal battle for aerial supremacy. Political parties in Mumbai hope to dominate the skyline on Sunday with party colours flying high in the form of kites, on the occasion Makar Sankrant, the festival of kites.
Kite-makers are cashing in on demand from political parties, ahead of the February 1 election.
The Maharashtra Navinirman Sena, Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Samajwadi Party are ready to slug it out in the sky.
On Sunday, when Makar Sankranti is celebrated and kite-flying competitions are held, parties will launch their own kites reflecting their party colours, to woo the electorate.
Shiv Sena spokesperson Neelam Gore told DNA, "Orange is the colour of the sky itself at sunrise. Bharatiya Janata Party leader Gopinath Munde was the first to greet us today by offering the traditional 'til gul' sweet. As far as flying kites is concerned, the party has not issued instructions. There will be extempore celebrations. People do like to enjoy and see colourful displays on festive occasions. However, an election win is more important for us."
Another Shiv Sena leader, Sada Sarvankar, said: "Many others (read parties) will be worried to fly kites so as not to become a case of 'Kati Patang'."
The parties will engage in competitions to bring down kites of rivals, to attain supremacy during the festival, party leaders said.
Party representatives have been scouting Dongri market in Mumbai, ordering thousands of kites in colours associated with their parties.
"Youths form the backbone of our party and kite-flying is popular among them," said Arvind Gawde of the Raj Thackeray-led MNS.
"We have ordered 6,000 kites with the party flag printed. We want to encourage the young to participate in the kite-flying competition," he added.
The Congress and NCP ordered white and multi-coloured kites, while the Shiv Sena opted for saffron kites.
The NCP's minority wing ordered 2,000 multi-coloured kites.
"We intend to display our attitude during the polls by going in for a kill at the competition," said NCP South Mumbai minority cell vice-president Seyed Mehboob.
"There is big demand from workers for party kites. The event will certainly boost cadres," said a Samajwadi Party candidate, whose party ordered 4,000 green kites.
"This is the first time so many politicians have placed bulk orders. Business is pouring in," said Mohammad Malik Ansari, owner of the Dongri Kite Centre, one of the oldest kite-makers in the city.
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