No business for artists, printers this elections

With Election Commission ruling out the use of graffiti and wall paintings and restricting the use of banners and posters as part of election campaign, printers and artistes across the capital are feeling the heat.

With Election Commission ruling out the use of graffiti and wall paintings and restricting the use of banners and posters as part of election campaign, printers and artistes across the capital are feeling the heat.

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Elections are considered a golden phase for printers as various political parties get their party banners and hoardings printed in large number. But the strict guidelines by the Election Commission have hit their business, those in the trade say.

“The ban has ruined our business this time. The sample posters that we have printed have not been sold. Our workers are short of work,” says Dayal Bhai of Sindh Traders, Sadar Bazar.

The Election Commission has imposed restrictions on hoardings, banners, flags, wall writings and pasting of posters as well as any form of defacement.

“We have not totally discarded the posters or hoardings but it must add to the candidate’s expenditure which should not exceed 25 lakhs. Stern action would be taken against political parties and candidates who do not follow the guidelines issued by the Election Commission” says J K Sharma, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi Election Commission.

Ban on hoardings has given a nightmare to printers, however, electronic media, newspapers and advertising agencies are getting benefit as some parties are also using internet for their campaigns.