Sena to put up 500 LCD screens to advertise feats

With the upcoming civic polls, party wants to remind Mumbaikars of its welfare projects in the city in its 5-year term since 'people only remember the bad things'

Sena to put up 500 LCD screens to advertise feats

With the upcoming civic polls, party wants to remind Mumbaikars of its welfare projects in the city in its 5-year term since 'people only remember the bad things'

In case you missed the numerous political hoardings dotting the streets, the Shiv Sena will remind you of its accomplishments in the last five years through advertisements on LCD screens. Prior to the BMC elections in February 2012, the party plans to set up 500 of these screens -- at a cost of nearly Rs 15 lakh -- to showcase the projects it has undertaken for the city.

High visibility: The LCD screens would be installed at public places like
shopping malls and civic offices across the city

The party has already put up nearly 100 hoardings with the message 'Karun dakhavle (We've done it)' and pictures of Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aditya. The LCD screens will be installed at public places such as the BMC offices to malls.

For good memories
Standing Committee Chairperson and a Sena corporator from Chembur, Rahul Shewale said, "Only bad things are remembered by people and it is necessary for us to inform them of the positive changes that we brought about in the city during our five-year term. A lot of our projects have been completed in the past five years and many major ones have got sanctioned for which the work would begin soon." He added that the screens would play slides with write-ups about the projects and the party.

"There are important projects like the storm water drains, the construction of new roads, the water tunnels, the Vaitarna dam, etc which would only benefit the public in return for their taxes and votes," he said. Each LCD costs Rs 3,000 approximately. The Sena also plans to expand its reach with more legal hoardings in the city.

"We would also be publishing books with pictures and details of our numerous ongoing projects in the city," said Shewale.

Citizens say
But would the people subject to this blitz of adverts really bother to go through them? When this reporter spoke to citizens, they gave mixed reactions.

Rohan Moolya, a resident of Khar, said, "All these marketing techniques are unnecessary. The money they are spending on the advertising can be spent for the benefit of the city."

Said Krishna Patel of Andheri, "There are many issues like unavailability of water to residents, poor maintenance of public toilets and so on. If they can spend so much on advertising, then they can undertake the rectification of these drawbacks."

There are some who applaud Sena's work.

Jyotsana Dighe, a resident of Dadar, said, "The swimming pool in Dadar is one of the best works in the city. It clearly shows that the Sena is striving to work for the betterment of the city. The suburbs require a lot of work and it can be done over the years. Informing people of their achievements is every politico's job and this is what they are doing."