Weighing contestants against coins catches the fancy of voters

Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh/Raikot/Payal, January 19

An old election tradition according to which a candidate is weighed against coins and the same amount is contributed as fund by his/her supporters seems to be reviving once again.

The tradition virtually fizzled out during the last Assembly elections following demonetisation. Supporters of most candidates had started distributing ‘ladoos’ after weighing against them.

An average-built candidate normally weighs around Rs17,000 to Rs20,000 in Rs 1 coins. It is more of a tradition, which has once again added charm to election time euphoria. Weighing candidate against sweets adds more to enthusiasm as all present feel involved when eatables are distributed among them. Aman Afridi, Councillor

At times it becomes funny watching a thin candidate losing to heavier ones in terms of money collected or materials distributed at such occasions.

The president, Municipal Council, Raikot, Sudarshan Joshi, also election campaign convener of the National Party candidate said, “Residents of various localities of the segment are showing inclination to extend monetary support to their candidate by contributing coins equal to his/her weight.”

“To avoid unnecessary hassle of supporters in making arrangements, we have prepared a bag of coins equal to candidate’s weight, which is taken to his/her locality for the formal activity,” said Joshi.

AAP candidate from Amargarh constituency Jaswant Singh Gajjanmajra said in-charges of his campaign at some localities were enthusiastic about organising programmes in which his supporters wanted to weigh him against coins or ‘laddoos’.

“However, we have decided to stagger such activities for the time being as it will be difficult to get Covid guidelines implemented in letter and spirit in case of sizable gatherings,” said Gajjanmajra.

A Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) supporter and councillor, Aman Afridi said, “An average-built candidate normally weighs around Rs17000 to Rs20000 in Rs 1 coins. It is more of a tradition, which has once again added charm to election time euphoria.”

“Weighing candidate against sweets adds more to enthusiasm as all presents feel involved when eatables are distributed anong them,” Afridi added.