Voting to elect the leaders of a nation is not child’s play, but dummy electronic voting machines (EVMs) sure make for interesting toys, particularly in the election season. These play-things are being lapped up like hot-cakes by adults and specifically political parties to train people to press the ‘right symbol’ during elections. Firms flogging such dummy EVMs and other political party branded objects such as wet tissues and mobile phone stickers hope to do brisk business as the elections season heats up.

Gaurav Bansal, who runs Bansal Graphics, sells his products including dummy EVMs in India and in Africa.

“The dummy EVMs are sold after the symbols are issued. Parties get their symbols printed and use these machines to train voters” said Bansal, who sells his products online. He has sold products to parties such as the BJP, the Congress, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Janata Dal (United). Others items sold are party-designed sarees, 2D and 3D mobile stickers, and branded wet tissues that made debut during the recent Karnataka elections.

Also eyeing business from political parties is The Flag Corporation, which specialises in flags with special weaves and “warp-knitted polyester”. “It can flutter on cars and bikes, and battle tough weather,” said Gyan Shah, Partner, Flag Corporation.

Another New Delhi-based firm Elecmat Promotions LLP supplies branded vehicles and bicycles. One of his products is Modi-branded white Tobu men’s cycle. “We have already bagged orders to supply almost 2,000 white-coloured Tobu cycles, the design for which was provided by the BJP,” said Hemant Rastogi, CEO, Elecmat Promotions Llp. Tobu cycles were also used by the BJP in 2014 elections.

For poll-flavoured trinkets, the game is mainly in volumes and in capturing the imagination of those at the bottom of the pyramid. Anuradha of Hyderabad-based Mega Creations supplies multiple products including “ bindis ” with Modi’s image. With a message in Telugu that translates into “ Sada Suhagan Raho ”, these bindis (priced ₹1) were distributed in villages in earlier elections.

These small enterprises came together in a big soiree in Delhi earlier this month to brainstorm on the ‘business of elections’. It was organised by one of their peers — Trident Business Connect LLP — a politicalconsulting and election strategy firm.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW