Tee-shirts replacing banners to spread the message

The BMC is going about implementing the Election Commission's order on restricting banners and posters very seriously, and the city is benefiting. A lot of ugly defacement has been wiped off, but candidates are, obviously, sulking. They find the campaign lackluster without posters, banners and related paraphernalia. They feel that without banners they will not get the expected mileage.
"With hardly a month left for the elections, we have to manage the entire campaign without posters. It is necessary that we inform the voters about the candidate, party symbol, etc. Voters have to become familiar with his face. But since the election commissions has banned them, we have to refrain from using banners and the like," said an election agent of a candidate from a national party.
With the group leaders of different political parties in the city failing to finalise a policy to regulate the use of banners and posters, the BMC decided to enforce a complete ban on them as per the rules of the election code of conduct.
"We have our policy on prosecuting those who violate the rule under the MMC Act for defacement of public property. We will write to the chief electoral office, informing them of the violation of the code of conduct," said a senior official in the license department.
Manufacturers of banners and posters, however, feel they have been deprived of their right to livelihood. They used to have a turn-over of a few crores during election time. However, times have changed.
Shweta Unde (name changed) from Dadar said there was a time when during an election they used to work on more than 13,000-15,000 sq ft of flex banners, and earn more than a lakh just in a few days.
"The ban has changed the entire scenario. Now with the EC clampdown and BMC restrictions, we are left with no job at all. I had to sell my workshop last year as it was running at a loss. Now I take up paltry orders on a freelance basis," she added.

Messages on tee-shirts
However, amidst the gloom, there are entrepreneurs, who are trying to push boundaries and think out of the box. They have hit upon the novel idea of promoting candidates and their messages through tee-shirts, mobile covers and such other merchandise.
These special tee-shirts available in a few leading stores and even with some street vendors. A few shops are now engaged in printing the messages you want on tee-shirts.
Some of these clothing merchandise have on them messages of public interest. There are others with party logos and colours printed on them.
There are also mobile covers in the market with party logos and flags printed on them. And there is a huge demand for them with candidates buying them in bulk to distribute among party workers.
"The sale has been going on since two months. Initially the response was lukewarm, but gradually it picked up. The idea is a huge hit," said a wholesale dealer in Manish Market.