The old saying, a way to a man’s (in this case voter) heart is through his stomach, has always been a popular election mantra among mana politicians. Only this year, there’s a slight twist. Giving the clichéd biryani and liquor packets a miss, our netas in Seemandhra have instead opted for fresh supplies of chicken, mutton and fish this season, perhaps hoping for this ‘delectable gift’ to further boost their vote count.
Even the timing of delivering these neatly wrapped food packets has been decided meticulously — over weekends, when members of a family usually sit down to share a meal together.
“Last Sunday, somebody came and dropped off a packet (of chicken) covered in a black polythene bag. When we asked the supplier, he said it was a gift from a certain party leader who will visit us soon,” said a visibly surprised P Ram Mohan, a tailor from Visakhapatnam.
Politicians confess that this ‘offer’ is not only more effective but also less expensive. “This way every member of the family can be satisfied and wooed. It is better than spending huge amounts on persuading voters through mass gathering programmes like fake birthday functions,” said an aide of a YSRCP contestant, whose candidature for a Vizag rural assembly segment is almost confirmed.
Interestingly, these Seemandhra leaders ‘credit’ their Telangana colleagues for introducing them to this innovative voter-wooing scheme.
“We learnt this ‘strategy’ from Telangana politicians in districts like Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Medak. It was also recently implemented by some leaders in the Armur Assembly constituency of Nizamabad district,” said the leader, while supplying raw chicken at the doorsteps of his voters in his constituency.
Apart from voters, even meat/fish vendors have benefitted from this arrangement. In fact, sources say that some politicians from TDP, Congress and YSRCP have handed over the entire duty — right from purchasing chicken in bulk to distribution — to these vendors
“Some politicians have contracted us to offer one to two kg chicken per household, especially on Sundays. Although this business is good for us, there is always the fear of raids from the enforcement wing in view of code of conduct,” said a chicken shop owner from Vizianagaram district.
A poultry farmer from East Godavari district, who supplies to the three north coastal Andhra districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Vizag, said he has his fingers crossed for bumper sales of chicken once the election fever gets into full force from April 12.
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