Delhi: Flowers scarce ahead of MCD elections

New Delhi, Mar 30: Flowers in the national capital have seen a sudden surge in demand ahead of the MCD elections with demand of rose, marigold and jasmine going through the roof.

Sunder Mehta of Mehrauli flower wholesale market told UNI the demand for the blossoms has gone up manifold. To meet the rising needs, flowers were being brought in from places in neighbouring towns like Sonepat, Hapur and Meerut, he added.

Earlier, one kg marigold cost somewhere between Rs 12 and Rs 15 which has has gone up to Rs 30 per kg. Similarly, the rate of flowers like rose, which was earlier Rs 35-40 has touched Rs 50 a kg. The rates of Zafari and 'Rajni Gandha' have seen an increase of Rs 20 kg each.

Flowers vanish from the market as soon as they go on sale as early as 0800 hrs with political party workers picking up even the last available petal. Around 500 garlands get sold off every morning and at times the demands are even higher, said another florist.

Prior to the election canvassing, around 15 truckload of flowers from trans-Yamuna would have sufficed but of late, the number has exceeded 25. Besides three main places, flowers are also being arranged from satellite cities like Gurgaon, Noida and Faridabad.

However, the florists in Hanuman Mandir in Connaught Place, the market which springs up from nowhere in the wee hours and gets over by 0800 hrs, feel otherwise. According to them the increase in demand has been marginal. The prices do rise in summers, owing to shorter shelf life of flowers but elections as such do not play a major role in it, they said.

Arti Mehra, the BJP candidate from Safdarjung Enclave, said, ''We are definitely feeling the dearth of flowers this time with our party workers running from pillar to post arraging for the same.

Blossoms play a very important role in a politicians life. Can you imagine a politician without garlands?''

UNI