Earthen water pots are the new medium for election awareness in this high-stakes constituency as the poll machinery has roped in artisans to make ubiquitous pots with slogans to attract voters in far-flung areas.
'Matkis' made out of clay are used at a mass level to keep water cool in this region, which forms part of the Thar desert. Slogans about election awareness written around thepots can be spotted in the markets these days.
Barmer is witnessing a battle for prestige between expelled BJP leader Jaswant Singh who is fighting as an Independent and BJP's Sonaram Choudhary, a former Congress legislator who recently joined the saffron party. The constituency's sitting MP is Harish Choudhary from Congress.
Pots are used by almost all the families in the region in the summer season, an official said, adding that it is the "best way" to reach out to maximum number of people even in remotest of areas.
"Pots are easily available and used everywhere be it shops, homes or political rallies. So, the idea to use pots as a medium to spread messages was floated," said Narendra Tansukhani, an officer under Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme, here.
He said that some of the pot makers were asked to write certain slogans in Hindi so that they can attract attention of voters.
Local shopkeeper Sawairam Mali said he has bought such pots for his shop. Besides promotional messages for voting, the date for polling is also marked on the pot, he added.
The Lok Sabha constituency, spread over Western desert districts of Barmer and Jaisalmer bordering Pakistan, is among 20 constituencies out of total 25 in Rajasthan going to polls on April 17.
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