Raining umbrellas

GANGTOK: A rainy day never catches politicians unprepared. As polling day comes nearer and voters stay away, the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front SDF is ensuring that at least one element does not go against them: the monsoon. Voters are being distributed made-to-order umbrellas carrying the party8217;s symbol and colours.

TThe Congress has resorted to 8220;designer8221; bindis and the Opposition Sikkim Sangram Parishad SSP to custom-made hats. Female Congress supporters travel on open-hooded jeeps and other vehicles, sporting a bindi carrying the party symbol 8220;hand8221;. Opposition SSP supporters are making the rounds on foot, balancing a hat with the party colours red and white and a cutout of its symbol, an elephant.

Adding music to the drama are the catchy tunes played over the public address system at every election rally. Songs are sung either in praise of a particular candidate or party supremo, or castegating the opponent, to the tune of a popular pop or folk number.

However, missing are the larger-than-life cutouts of party supremos. Festoons, buntings and banners are also fewer than usual. But the EC fear obviously doesn8217;t cloud the great election drama.