All poll and no work: Curbs on poll impacts artisans

Wed, May 7 01:23 PM

Bangalore, May 7 (PTI) The brush and the palette lie idle on worktables, the pots, pans and ladles gather dust in their racks and the cogs of printing machines remain unused, barely two days before Karnataka goes to the polls. Not just political candidates, but even small time painters, caterers, artisans, outdoor advertising agencies are being impacted by the curbs imposed by the Election Commission in this month's assembly elections in Karnataka.

With just a few days to go the polls, it is poll time sans all the fanfare. More importantly for artisans it has become a case of "all poll but no work".

"Poll time often meant that our business was up by 25 per cent. This time however business has been as usual," says K N Gupta, proprietor of Team Design, an outdoor advertising firm based in the city.

"Every year there are several enquiries by both candidates and their supporters. But this time round, there have been no enquiries.

The polls have failed to generate any business this year," said Gupta, whose agency provides hoardings and posters to political parties. Explaining the reasons, he said it is primarily because of the EC's directions.

Secondly, unlike earlier polls, the time between announcement of the polls and its date of schedule was very less, cutting down campaigning time, he said. Usually orders are placed a month or fortnight in advance of the requirement.

This time there are no orders, he said adding that business from polls have been nil. Conspicuously missing this year is the buzz in small makeshift studios of painters and kitchens of caterers, with the usual orders for bunting, posters, hoardings and free lunches and dinners missing.

PTI.

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