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Vehicle stickers in Ludhiana latest publicity gimmick this political season
Ahead of assembly polls, political parties are leaving no stone unturned to give a boost to their popularity among people. And with changing times, the means of advertising have also gone beyond the conventional hoardings and posters, colourful ‘vehicle stickers’ are the latest publicity gimmick this political season. These stickers bearing party name, logo and slogan, can be ubiquitously seen on various means of transport all across the city, asserting the vehicle owner’s political affiliation
Ahead of assembly polls, political parties are leaving no stone unturned to give a boost to their popularity among people. And with changing times, the means of advertising have also gone beyond the conventional hoardings and posters, colourful ‘vehicle stickers’ are the latest publicity gimmick this political season. These stickers bearing party name, logo and slogan, can be ubiquitously seen on various means of transport all across the city, asserting the vehicle owner’s political affiliation.
But, now with elections nearing, the desperation of political parties and their leaders to get maximum number of stickers distributed has reached its zenith. In fact, everyone wants to jump on every opportunity that comes their way to ensure distribution, even if that means resorting to amusing tactics.
Beginning with local offices of political parties, visit them anytime your gift hamper of stickers is confirmed. You may be alone but be ready to get a dozen stickers in one go and this of course comes with a humble request ‘please paste them on all your vehicles and distribute the remaining among your friends, neighbours and relatives.’
“Being an idle senior citizen, I have a habit of visiting media houses and political party offices to raise issues concerning the city but, last week as I visited the offices of councillors and head offices of political groups, on my departure I was handed a load full of stickers. It seemed more like a departure gift and I wondered that’s the reason why most of the vehicles especially cars all over Punjab can be seen with stickers of political parties,” shared a 70-year-old Jagmohan Singh.
With laughter he added, “Your concern or complaint may or may not be seriously taken but, someone from their office will surely not forget to present you stickers as return gift.”
A head of one of the village sports clubs echoed that just a few days earlier when he along with a group of 8 club members visited a local MLA from the ruling party at his residence office to request for funds to buy track suits for the players, he seemed to use us for the distribution of his party stickers.
“As we were just entering the office, rather than first listening to our request, he instantly called his secretary to get a set of 10 stickers for each one of us who even guided us where all we can put these stickers and how we could distribute. It seemed, as if, we had booked an appointment with this office for receiving stickers only,” he said.
Besides offices, during political rallies and visits to villages, political leaders carry huge pile of stickers in their cars and get them distributed through their party workers. Youth wings of respective parties are also given quota of stickers for handing out the same to students in colleges, universities and in their friends circle.
Since, last few days, they have intensified the distribution process. Some village sarpanches, who are usually connected to different political parties have also received stickers through local party workers to ensure that every vehicle in the village has a sticker.
On top of that, drivers and helpers working with political parties are also tasked to distribute the stickers especially if they come from villages. “We are also asked to distribute the party stickers. Since, I come from a village I am given stickers from time to time to ensure every villager not only from my village but also from the neighbouring villages gets the party stickers. In other words, this makes us feel as if we are doing a dual job,” said a driver who works at a local political office.
Most commonly seen stickers on cars as of now are of SAD followed by Congress.
