Chennai’s traders cool their heels in hot poll season

Come elections and it is no less than a festive season for Chennai’s vendors selling political party merchandise. Two months prior to polling, these traders selling flags, buntings, photographs of leaders, stationery items with photos of politicians, etc make a killing, earning twice or even thrice of what they make on regular days.

This year, however, most shops in Chennai are witnessing a huge drop in sales, even a month before elections. Vendors attribute lacklustre sales to the Election Commission’s stringent regulatory measures — that curb display of party insignia and impose restrictions on carrying huge sums of money — on and the late start to the political campaigning.

Abdul Razak, who for the last six decades has managed a shop at Parry’s Corner, says he had seen the lowest sales this year.

“Usually, we do business of close to ₹5 lakh per day. But this time, we are yet to receive requests for goods. Even the number of enquiries has reduced,” Razak says.

Every year, the shop sources ₹20-crore worth of election merchandise — flags, placards, badges, plastic cards, mufflers and shawls — from Sivakasi. This year, most of the goods they ordered remain unpacked. “Our estimated loss this year is close to over ₹1 crore,” he rues.

Akbar Ali, the owner of a small outlet in Malayaperumal Street at Parry’s Corner, concurs. Election material usually sells like hot cakes from March. But this year, he has barely sold anything and estimates a huge loss for his store.

“Most of the buyers who usually purchase in bulk are apprehensive, as the Election Commission has implemented stringent regulatory measures,” he says. Most of the political parties are finalising their alliances and are releasing candidate lists just about now. With seat-sharing finalised only recently, party members have started buying items for campaigning only in the past few days, says a member of the Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi, an outfit that is contesting on the AIADMK’s ‘two-leaves’ symbol.

Given the reduction in demand, some shopkeepers are cautious before making their purchase. “We have got only enquiries and the actual sale has not happened yet. We will buy items based on orders, which we expect to happen towards the end of April,” says S Moorthy, owner of MS Manium Stores.

Apart from election items, textile wholesalers are also observing a cut in sales. S Kumar, owner of Saravana Handlooms in Godown Street, says the shop used to sell 1,000 dhotis a day during election season. “But this year, we are hardly selling 250. We are expecting the sales to pick up in May,” he adds.

According to PAKS Sundaram, proprietor of Kuppuswami Mudaliyar and Sons, once parties start their campaign, the sales will pick up. “We are confident of selling 10,000 dhotis in the next one month,” he says.

COMMENT NOW