Shillong, Feb. 4: Ingenuity seems to be the flavour of the election season in Meghalaya. A few days after the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) released an audio cassette of songs to woo the electorate, chief minister F.A. Khonglam?s campaign team came out with a colourful calendar bearing his photograph and name. Copies of the calendar are now being distributed free among voters in Khonglam?s constituency, Sohra.
J.S. Phanbuh, who is the chief minister?s brother-in-law and NCP candidate for the Jirang seat, and Ardhendhu Chaudhuri from Mawprem are doing likewise in a bid to gain visibility. Some politicians are reportedly planning to deliver messages to the electorate through the Internet or television.
The NCP was the frontrunner in the race, releasing an album of songs in Tura recently. Titled Chadambe Chasong Gitalrang (Youth of the new generation), the songs speak of the power of youth and project the NCP as a party of the future.
Impressed by the efforts of political parties to reach out to the masses, a voter who identified himself as Mishing Shullai said innovative ways of campaigning had brightened the poll scene.
?Gone are the days when organising public meetings used to be the only way politicians could make themselves seen and heard,? he said.
With people steering clear of public meetings because of the chill, campaigning has been confined to distribution of personal calendars and assorted gifts during house-to-house visits.
?I have been distributing calendars so that people know me. This is the first time I am contesting an election and it is important for me to reach out to the electorate. I have distributed about 5,000 calendars so far,? Phanbuh, whose constituency has 22,562 voters, said.
While Phanbuh is confident that it will work, his detractors say the electorate cannot be fooled so easily. Former finance minister A.H. Scott Lyngdoh dismissed it as a mere gimmick.
?These people probably have a lot of money and can afford to dole out gifts to the voters. But I believe such things do not make an impact,? he said.
Scott Lyngdoh said he had more faith in the conservative styles of campaigning than in new-age gimmickry.
?There has been a shift in the style of campaigning, with politicians interacting with people more often. I am all for house-to-house campaigning and street-corner meetings, but not the superficial things some parties are so taken up with.?