Jubilee Hills poll race heats up with cooker, mixer offers
HYDERABAD: Candidates contesting from the Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency are reportedly stockpiling thousands of cookers and mixers to distribute among voters in a bid to strengthen their chances ahead of the upcoming elections.
According to sources, several aspirants are focusing on women and minority voters, whom they see as decisive in this constituency. The plan involves large scale distribution of cookers, mixers, and other domestic items in bastis and residential colonies across the area.
Party workers are said to have already procured these appliances and shifted them to private warehouses and houses of local supporters for safe storage until the last phase of the campaign.
50,000 appliances ordered in bulk
A candidate belonging to a major political party reportedly placed an order for 50,000 cookers and mixers through wholesale dealers about four days ago. The consignment has since been moved discreetly to godowns in the constituency.
The same candidate is also said to be arranging sweet boxes and other token gifts for voters from affluent and salaried households, while targeting women voters with kitchenware that has a practical appeal.
Election spending under scrutiny
Political analysts note that the rising cost of campaigning has transformed elections over the decades. While candidates before the 1980s spent modestly mostly on nomination deposits, food, and transport modern campaigns now involve lavish spending on inducements.
Analysts estimate that total expenditure in this election season could touch ₹300 crore, with appliances, liquor, and sweets forming a major share of candidate spending in some urban constituencies.
