Summary:
Lucknow, Jan 25 (PTI) Ban on physical electioneering for the assembly polls amid a spurt in Covid cases has taken a toll on the shops selling publicity material with people in the business complaining that they are not even able to meet their daily expenses.
The shops equipped with colourful publicity material, dotting the areas adjacent to different political party offices in the state capital, await buyers even though the party offices in the vicinity continue to witness a heavy turnout of leaders and ticket seekers.
The Election Commission has extended the ban till January 31 on physical poll rallies and roadshows ahead of the next month’s assembly elections in five states.
The curb was imposed by the poll panel while announcing the schedule earlier this month on account of a surge in Covid cases in the country.
"Every day I think it would be a better business but so far it has been very bad.
I have three workers employed at the shop and I am not able to meet their expenses under the present conditions," Raghuraj Pal, owner of an over three-decade-old shop, Raghuraj Pal Enterprises, next to the state BJP headquarters told PTI.