Bicycles in high demand during election campaign

With their party symbol “bicycle” embossed in red and green clothes tied to the cycles, over 400 slogan shouting SP workers wearing head banners are seen proceeding in serpentine columns in the district everyday to seek votes

Bicycles are in high demand for electioneering in this southern Orissa city and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh with the poor man’s vehicle being the election symbol of both the SP and TDP.

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With their party symbol “bicycle” embossed in red and green clothes tied to the cycles, over 400 slogan shouting SP workers wearing head banners are seen proceeding in serpentine columns in the district everyday to seek votes for their party.

Bicycles are also in high demand for electioneering in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, which is barely 20 km along the NH-five, where the election symbol of the main opposition Telugu Desam party (TDP) is also same as that of SP.

Proprietors of cycle rental units here say their income has increased during election time.

Earlier, TDP workers used to hire bicycles and would ride along the highway to neighbouring Srikakulam district during every elections for campaigning, they say.

This time, the bicycles are being taken by SP, which has fielded its nominee Saroj Patnaik in the Berhampur assembly segment.