'Crowd' available for a price
Little known politicians wary of modest turnout at their rallies can now heave a sigh of relief as agencies supplying “supporters” have mushroomed in the state and doing brisk business.
The agencies mainly bank on those little known poll aspirants looking forward to assert their prominence among the electorate.
Needless to say, the practice makes a travesty of electoral ethics, but the candidates can not care less.
One such agency, named “Chunav Prachar Sangh” has been “supplying people” for rallies and processions, of course at a cost. A male supporter would cost Rs 300, a woman supporter Rs 200 while teenagers can be roped in for anything between Rs 50 to Rs 100.
The candidates are thus assured of a strong crowd in their rallies. “The contestants will supply party flags, caps and we will supply the people,” said Ram Karan Yadav, president of the Sangh.
“The contestants will have to give them tea, breakfast and lunch and the supporters will be with them from ten in the morning to six in the evening,” he added.
The “supporters” mainly comprise daily wage labourers, street vendors, garbage collectors and likes with meagre income. “These people have nothing to do with ideology…all they want is money at the end of the day,” Yadav said.
Yadav, who claims that several leaders have already “booked crowds” for their rallies, however, refused to divulge any information on his clientele.
