Lok Sabha elections: Few takers for NaMo merchandise

PANAJI

: As the election fever heats up, NaMo merchandise is turning out to be a huge sellout among BJP supporters in most parts of the country.


However, when the opportunity for party followers arose to flaunt the merchandise at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public meeting in Goa on Wednesday, it was a near no-show. Only the odd ‘NaMo Again’ cap or t-shirt was visible in the 10,000-odd crowd inside the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee stadium and another 20,000 outside.

Vishal Acharya and his elderly mother Sumati were among the rare ones sporting the ‘NaMo Again’ cap. “We had purchased the cap for Rs 100 at a stall during a recent Amit Shah meeting in Goa,” said Acharya.

From jackets, keychains, coffee mugs, wristbands to notebooks, magnets and stickers with slogans of ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar’ and ‘Made in India’, most of the merchandise costs between Rs 99 to Rs 299.

Although the NaMo merchandise can be purchased online, its physical marketing has not been as aggressive in Goa as in other states where mobile vans go around advertising and selling it.

“People in Goa tend to expect stuff for free. They won’t be bothered to purchase it online,” said a party worker.

But supporters on Wednesday were mostly seen wearing the regular BJP caps and stoles distributed by the party to supporters.

“In Goa, there are more educated people, so their way of showing support is different,” said long-time BJP party worker Audrey Menezes.