Candidates don diverse roles to lure voters

Visakhapatnam: From ladling out fritters from a frying pan to trying their hands at sewing clothes, cutting a tender coconut to ironing clothes and lending a helping hand to a mason, candidates don diverse roles in 'real life' to get closer to masses.

This poll season, candidates from various political parties are going all out to impress voters as part of their campaign across constituencies in the district. Besides doling out freebies and making assurances that normally follow after 'if I get elected', the aspiring candidates wield ladles and other props to leave a lasting impact on the voters.

Known for his mass appeal, Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu, who is eyeing a hat-trick contesting from Visakhapatnam East Assembly constituency, took people by surprise by wielding a ladle at a snack counter and taking out deep-fried 'vadas' from an oil-filled pan and flipping a 'dosa' from the 'tawa' to serve it to an eagerly-waiting customer.

Helping a vendor, TDP Gajuwaka MLA contestant Palla Srinivasa Rao offered tender coconut to people by cutting them off skillfully. YSRCP candidate for Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha constituency M V V Satyanarayana experimented with his culinary arts at a makeshift stall along with an army of party supporters. Reaching out to community helpers, JSP candidate for Visakha South Gampala Giridhar worked in tandem with a mason.

Apart from rolling-out a 'puri' at a tiffin serving kiosk, Jana Sena Party (JSP) nominee for Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha constituency V.V. Lakshminarayana tried his hand at stitching and ironing clothes while campaigning.

For those who get to see political leaders arriving at their doorstep, it looks straight out of a movie scene. "In a way, it is encouraging. However, we feel such feats often aim at getting featured in the media. What truly impresses voters is how a leader helps resolve ground-level issues once they get elected," opines P.V. Achari, a tailor.

About the candidates reaching out to communities, G Vijay, an entrepreneur, says, "Political leaders should go beyond publicity stunts and reach out to people by fulfilling poll promises once they come to power. Their campaign should not be like the joke circulating in WhatsApp: "Do all fairy tales begin with 'once upon a time..? No, some begin with if I get elected," he says.