Bangalore, April 21 (ANI): Traders in Karnataka, which will have state assembly polls next month, are complaining of losses, especially in the wake of campaign material prices being hiked.
Karnataka will go to the polls on May 5, and campaigning plays a significant role in promoting each political party and its symbol among the masses.
Sanjay, a Bangalore-based shopkeeper, said: "This is not because of the leaders, but the inflation by the election commission. The colourful look that should come during the elections is not there. The rich candidates find out ways to advertise themselves, through television or newspapers, whereas independent candidates are not able to reach the people, as their symbols don't reach the people."
The traders blame the election commission for the hike in the prices of poll-related banners, posters, caps, t-shirts and batches.
Yashwant, another affected trader, said: "The election commission has fixed the prices according to their own interest. For instance, when you take a cap, they have fixed the rate as 50 rupees; they haven't consulted with the traders before fixing the price. When you can get a cap for 3 rupees, they have fixed 50 as its price. You can get a flag for 3 rupees, but they have fixed a price of 20 rupees for it. If they would have called for a meeting with the traders association before fixing the price, then our business would have increase."
Approximately seven thousand candidates from different political parties will contest for 224 Assembly seats on May 5. The results would be declared on May 8.
Some of the parties that are contesting the upcoming elections are regional Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP) which is headed by Former Chief of India's Southern Karnataka State, Yeddyurappa, Karnataka Pradesh Congress and the Bharatiya Janata party.
The BJP's strength in the 224-member assembly is 120. While main opposition Congress Party has 71 legislators and the regional Janata Dal (Secular) has 26 legislators. (ANI)
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