The Hindu : New Delhi News : Cleaner campaign this time

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 09, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Cleaner campaign this time

By Lalit K. Jha

NEW DELHI, MAY 8. Colourful and attractive advertisements at paid sites, large-scale use of telecommunication gadgets, telephones and mobiles, and commercials on satellite channels and cable network were major features of the election campaigning for the seven Lok Sabha seats in the Capital which came to an end this evening.

Though the political parties and the candidates continued to deface public places through posters, banners, hoardings and graffiti, it was a much cleaner election campaign compared to the earlier general elections in Delhi.

The Election Commission of India's decision, though mid-way, allowing use of government-approved commercial advertisement sites across the city like streetlight poles, public utility complexes and bus-stands paved the way for a cleaner political campaign this time round.

Taking the lead in this clean election campaigning was the Delhi Assembly Speaker and Congress candidate from New Delhi, Ajay Maken, who put up a large number of hoardings on streetlight poles, public utility complexes, modern garbage bins and bus-stands in Lutyens' Delhi. "We received a very positive feedback from our voters who are among the most enlightened in Delhi. Hoardings, posters and banners defacing the public places only irritated them," said one of his election agents.

Eminent lawyer and senior Congress leader, R.K. Anand, who is contesting from South Delhi, also took the lead in this regard. Mr. Anand put up hoardings on streetlights poles, bus-stands and other government approved commercial sites to reach out to the masses. His BJP rival, V.K. Malhotra, also later shifted to this cleaner mode of campaigning.

The Union Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs, Vijay Goel, who is known for his non-conventional style of campaigning, was the one who tried to derive the maximum benefit from this Election Commission directive permitting political advertisements at paid sites. Contesting from Delhi Sadar on a BJP ticket, Mr. Goel used the every strategic location in his constituency and put up attractive and colourful advertisements to attract the attention of his electors. Not lagging behind was his rival Jagdish Tytler of the Congress.

"It's only a beginning. This directive of the Election Commission can change the very face of campaigning the next time round. It would also increase the transparency with regard to election expenses," an official said. This along with advertisement on satellite channels and local cable networks would automatically reduce the necessity of putting up illegal hoardings, posters and banners at public places.

Telephone and mobile phones were used liberally in this election to reach out to the masses. "It is one of the cheapest mode and also very difficult for the expenditure observers to find out," an election agent.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi