Delhi’s Sadar Bazaar is unusually ‘thanda’ this polls

Just four days to go before the National Capital goes for polling, the Sadar Bazaar market here, which usually hustles and bustles around the election season, is unusually quiet. Traders believe that political parties this time are directly striking a deal with craftsmen and manufacturers. Also, social media have come into play, making this poll season a loss for them.

Shopkeepers were well prepared after the last election and had even included some new items such as watches, shades, t-shirts, wall clocks. However, now they are themselves lying on the piles wondering how to send it back to the factory owners and recover the losses.

"They say it is the festival of democracy but the market is thanda (no business)," was the common statement from various dealers who usually were loaded with work.

According to the wholesale dealers, many of them have been in this industry for the last two decades. "Assembly polls were better," they said.

"During the last Lok Sabha elections, the sale was decent and people had demanded watches, t-shirts, masks etc. So this year, we were fully equipped with new things. However, just four days are left for the election but our sale has been around 30 percent, this time around," said Nikhil, a salesman at Aaroma enterprises in Sadar Bazaar. He further added that in four days no magic can happen.

The traders say despite goods being priced between Rs 1 and 300, there are no many takers. They believe online business too have played a role in bringing down sales.

"Every election had one hot selling item. Last time it was 'Ab ki baar, Modi sarkar' t-shirts; this time it's shades and topis of BJP and Congress. We haven't seen much of AAP this time; their goods are getting wasted," said Rahul Batra of Rohit Rakhiwaale.

HOT-SELLERS

Most hot selling items this year have been ‘Mai Bhi Chowkidaar’ topi, saffron shades, Priyanka Gandhi masks and “NaMo Again” caps, say shopkeepers.