Poll alliances of regional parties with national ones like the BJP and Congress don’t make flex makers and printing press owners in the capital and steel city happy.

With businesses hit in the aftermath of demonetisation and GST, some 20 flex printers in Ranchi and 14 in Jamshedpur were eagerly looking to rake in the moolah from regional parties during the 2019 general elections. But, seat-sharing between BJP and Ajsu under the NDA and the Opposition alliance among Congress, JMM, JVM and RJD have dimmed their hopes of business to a big extent. Reason: they fear most campaign materials would come from the Delhi headquarters of national parties, regional parties won’t have to give orders on their own.

S.N. Srivastava, owner of Sri Mangalam Advertisers, a well-known printer in Jail Road, Ranchi, told this reporter that it was most unusual that they had not received a single order of campaign materials from a political party till date though the capital constituency would vote on May 6. “It is nearly the end of March and business is yet to pick up. Earlier, orders from political parties would come even three months ahead of polls,” he said.

Blaming alliances, he said, “The formation of alliances means the bulk of campaign materials will be sourced from respective party headquarters in Delhi unlike in earlier years when regional parties gave us bulk orders. What to do? I am now focusing more on my corporate clients.”

Others are still nurturing hope.

Mohammed Sharique of Shah Print City in Harmu Road said they knew most publicity materials would be brought in from Delhi, but they would get local orders too. “Everything can’t be brought from Delhi. Local candidates will print some items locally too. And there are always the Independents who give print orders in their hometowns. They’re known as vote-katwa (vote eaters) but they are very good for our business,” he smiled.

But isn’t he worried that it was already too late? “Times have changed and with digitalized flex printing, it takes only a day to print thousands of flex banners. So that’s not a worry,” Sharique said.

In Jamshedpur, Sakchi-based Vikas Sharma of Vridhi Creations, who had been printing flex banners for political parties in the last two general elections and also 2014 Assembly polls however sounded glum.

“Alliance or no alliance, budgets might be low for political parties with the GST (introduced in 2017) in place this time. GST is 5 per cent for ordinary flex and 18 per cent for vinyl flex. Plus, every penny in their daily poll expense has to be furnished before the Election Commission,” said Sharma.

Political party representatives however gave print and flex traders hope.

Senior state BJP leader Sanjay Seth said though they would get campaign materials from Delhi, they would also “get a large number of banners, hoarding and party flags printed from local agencies.”

Leader of Congress legislative party and Pakur MLA Alamgir Alam also said though most of the publicity materials would come from AICC in Delhi, pamphlets and hoardings highlighting local and regional issues would be made in Ranchi too.

Ordinary flex hoardings cost between Rs 8 and Rs 10 per square feet. Flex banners with frames cost between Rs 15 and Rs 25 per square feet.