Punjab polls: Tent house owners bear brunt of Election Commission ban on physical rallies

Parvesh Sharma

Sangrur, January 25

The ban imposed on physical rallies by the Election Commission (EC) has hit owners of tent houses and sound system hard. They say it is the first time that they don’t have any bookings during the election season and are left out of work.

“Usually, we do good business during elections, but due to the EC ban on organising physical rallies, we have got no customers. If the ban continues, we will be left with no income,” said Amrik Singh, owner of a tent house in Malerkotla.

While talking to The Tribune, some tent house owners said Covid had already caused huge losses to them as due to the surge in cases, the government had repeatedly been banning social gatherings. Now, many had expected good business during elections, but the pandemic again played the spoilsport for them.

“I had recently added more items to my store as I was hopeful of getting huge orders due to polls. But since the EC has banned physical rallies, I will not be able to recover my input cost and thus suffer losses,” said another owner of a tent house in Sangrur. There are many, who had also taken bank loans to boost their business but now stare at massive losses.

“Everyone should be cautious and contribute to prevent the further spread of virus but the government should also think about the plight of tent house owners, who are hit hard due the restrictions on holding events,” said a Sangrur tent house owner.

Candidates of almost all political parties too have been waiting eagerly to hold physical rallies and are waiting for the EC orders in this regard.

“We are hopeful that in the coming days, something positive will happen,” said a politician requesting anonymity.

In financial crisis

Usually, we do good business during elections, but due to the EC ban on organising physical rallies, we have got no customers. If the ban continues, we will be left with no income. — Amrik Singh, Malerkotla tent house owner