Maharashtra polls: Surge in number of candidates after political break ups; campaign companies have hands full

MUMBAI: Companies offering election campaign related services have their hands full following the break-up of the alliance between the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party as well as the BJP and the Shiv Sena, which has resulted in nearly 4,117 candidates in the fray in the upcoming assembly polls in Maharashtra instead of 2,889 the last time round.

With just a few days left for the October 15 polls, several candidates have turned to professional firms that are offering services such as arrangement of rallies, vehicles including helicopters for campaign, live satellite broadcast, voter helpline, celebrity events, data collection and logistics besides posters and hoardings.

The demand is mainly from the first time candidates who were not expecting a ticket, said Sunil Deshpande, founder of more than a decade old Aurangabad-based Shree Political Research Bureau, which provides poll data related services to political parties in the state. Many rural candidates, who do not want to use social media for campaign, have also hired such firms, he added.

According to Deshpande, more than 100 firms are offering such services in the state and many of these firms are handling campaigns of more than 100 candidates each this election season.

Kedar Nikam, director of Nashik-based Hi Tech Election Multi Services and Company, confirmed this, saying, “We are managing poll campaign of 106 candidates of various parties including the Shiv Sena, NCP, Congress and others across the state.”

As per one estimate, there are nearly 150 political consultants across India, charging Rs 1-50 lakh for each constituency. These firms make Rs 700-800 crore from the general elections, according to industry lobby Assocham.

Poll managers of political parties are also using online portals such as OLX to post advertisements for their specific requirements. On October 6, an ad posted in the name of Salkar from Mumbai sought 999 bikers for election campaigning. “Higher salary would be paid to experienced candidates in election campaign,” the ad promised.