Politically correct style statement

Jasmine Singh in Chandigarh

Harjot Bains, AAP candidate from Sahnewal (Ludhiana) pulls out a crisp white kurta-pyjama stacked under the layers of Armaani, Gucci, Arrow and Louis Vitton shirts. And, out come the mojri’s from the shoe rack. Linen and woollen waistcoats in three different colours are laid neatly on his bed. Voila, the politician is ready to face the voters. 

Even though the ongoing poll potpourri in Punjab elections is all about numbers, politicians are creating a subtle yet noticeable fashion statement. The popular style is the crisp white kurta-pyjama along with a waistcoat and suitable colours for the turban. Ruling Akali Dal leaders are mostly seen in navy blue turbans, while the Sikh leaders from the Aam Admi Party have adopted yellow as their colour. And as far as the Congress is concerned, bright and all shades of dark are in. 

The demand and need for the iconic political uniform is so popular with the fraternity that even the most stylish political leaders have traded their Gucci Armaani clothes for the aam admi dress! Whether this aam uniform will translate into any kind of khaas votes for these politicians, only time will tell, but for the moment it is the dress code which is working as leveller in the Punjab elections. 

Harjot Bains, 25, dresses up like any other youngster of his age. This young candidate can be found in denims, tees and branded shirts on days when is not making rounds of his constituency. For all other political rallies and party meetings, he has adopted a fixed dress code: kurta pyjama, (preferably white) and a vasket to finish the look. “I am an aam admi’s candidate, I wish to serve people, for this I have to look like them,” Harjot doesn’t see his vote bank swelling because of his ‘aam’ dress code, at the same time though, he is happy that people are accepting him as one among them.

While politicians in Punjab are busy wooing voters with the promise to offer them a better Punjab, some quick hands ensure that neta ji looks his best while he is that one promise!

Dilshad Noor is a tailor, who owns a small shop in Moga city. In this business for 17 years now, Dilshaad specializes in men’s kurta pyjama’s with single and double pockets. He and his team of seven tailors are busy working overnight to finish the orders for kurta pyjamas that have come from some leading politicians of the state. With a few basic instructions of stitching the kurta pyjama on time, ensuring th4 length of the kurta, and the length of the pyjama is slightly above the ankles, Dilshaad stitches at least 30-80 sets in a day. He charges Rs 1,200 for stitching a simple kurta pyjama (including cloth), any fancy additions, and the prize goes ups. “I have made kurta pyjamas for almost all top politicians of Punjab,” he says with pride.

If on one hand, there are politicians who’ve adopted a simple fashion rigs, others see no harm in giving a designer twist. This has made designer kurta pyjamas available anywhere between Rs 5,000-8,000 rank second in their wardrobe’s must-have, these days. 

Amritsar-based fashion designer Dilpreet Sekhon claims to have stitched more than 80 such sets for politicians and party supporters. Refusing to share her clientele, Sekhon shares that she stitches only two kinds of outfits, either the Modi style or the Giani Zail Singh style!

A vasket in bright colour lends that extra style, along with an expensive watch (this usually goes unnoticed) and branded sunglasses for the finishing look. Parambans Singh Romana, chairman Punjab State Youth Development Board YAD a dress like kurta pyjama evokes energy. “It’s comfortable too,” he says.