The Election Commission might have drawn up strict guidelines to prevent campaigning and electioneering from becoming a meaningless ostentation and an assault on one's visual and aural sensibilities but the candidates think otherwise.

Pendants, caps, broaches, pens, rings and sarees have been manufactured by every political party to woo voters and grab attention. Sarees — the material for which is imported from Surat — painted or woven with symbols of Bharatiya Janata Party, JD(S) and Congress are already dotting the landscape. Some of the accessories have been made to order from Mumbai as well. The candidates and their close knit supporters wear these accessories that cost anywhere between Rs 200 to Rs 1000.

Feng Shui turtles, Laughing Buddhas and idols double up as gifts which candidates and supporters have ordered to be distributed among friends and supporters. These are believed to bring good luck and ward off evil eyes.
S V Bharat of Smart Visions in Vijayanagar says he manufactures these accessories according to the orders he gets from party offices. He says that new candidates who have no prior experience in electioneering choose to wear and buy these accessories.

"We don't price them too heavily lest they don't sell. This time round the orders are much less because of the strictures imposed by the Election Commission but we do get orders for Feng Shui turtles and Laughing Buddhas," says Bharat.

Gurunath in Rajajinagar manufactures and designs attractive election accessories only during elections. It fetches him a lot of moolah and good publicity as well. This time Gurunath is more enthusiastic because his brother S Ananth is contesting as independent from the Gandhinagar constituency.

Shawls, stoles and sarees are ordered from Surat and designed here. This is a new trend, Ananth avers and adds, "these accessories highlight the party and definitely attract attention. We always need to give the people something new and innovative to fall back upon."

But spokesperson and General secretary of BJP Suresh Kumar thinks otherwise. He is contesting from Rajajinagar constituency and can't tune himself to the new trend of electioneering. He reasons that these accessories add no value and will definitely not help fetch any extra votes.

"Apart from badges and caps we don't use any other election material. It's a distraction and serves no purpose," says Suresh Kumar. He reasons that those who have been part of the election process for years with loads of experience will not resort to such small enticements to lure voters.

Whatever people may say, these election accessories have caught the fancy of the ordinary people who don’t mind wearing them.