Cadres turn human posters for CPI(M)

Kolkata, Apr 11 (UNI) Facing a ban on wall graffiti, novelty has become the buzzword for the CPI(M) for poll campaign before the West Bengal assembly election.

With a blanket ban enforced by the Election Commission on wall writing, postering and putting up banners and festoons, political parties may have lost their traditional ways to reach the people and the election, the colour of campaign, but the CPI(M) sprang up surprise by organising mobile campaigns.

Making the best use of a large cadre base, the party candidates are moving door-to-door with bands of workers-all wearing white aprons with the party symbol and appeals to vote printed on the front and the back.

''Wall writing has been banned on the ground of visual pollution and defacement of property but nobody can stop mobile graffitis that our workers are carrying everywhere,'' a CPI(M) state functionary said.

He pointed out that in a country like India, political parties could not reach the entire electorate through television and radio and this mobile campaign was the best option in absence of wall writing and posters.

Former CPI(M) state secretary Anil Biswas, who died recently, had directed the party units to take to the novel way to reach out to as many people as possible.

The party, having fielded 108 new candidates, claims that the workers have already reached to most of the people at booth level.

In Belgachia East Constituency, where Transport Minister Subhas Chakraborty is seeking re-election, a large number of people ranging from auto drivers to rickshaw pullers are seen moving around in white T-shirts with appeals in favour of the candidate.

There are more left for novelty as one can see people walking, shopping and marketing carrying colourful umbrellas with the party symbol and 'vote for appeal.' The issue has, however, evoked resentment among the opposition Congress and the Trinamool Congress which have alleged that the CPI(M) is gratifying the people by distributing T-shirts and umbrellas.

While the CPI(M) claimed that all the campaigners were party workers, Chief Electoral officer Debashis Sen said distribution of articles was an offence but that should be proved.

In the districts, the Left Front nominees have shown more communicative skill by sending greeting cards for the Bengali new year, that begins two-days ahead of the first phase polls, to all the voters.

The cards, of course, are not only for greeting but they carry the party's appeal and the message as well as a brief biography of the candidates.

In some areas the party has also distributed leaflets and booklets declaring the government's achievments at the local levels and the projects in pipelines for future.

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