THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: LDF candidate for Chengannur bypoll Saji Cherian has volunteered to take the entire flex board material that will be used during campaign for reuse. At an interaction with college students, who expressed serious concern over the growing use of flex boards during polls, Mr Cherian said LDF would try its best to reduce the use of plastic and flex prints. “I request all candidates contesting the bypoll to hand over flex boards to me after the polls. We will reuse them for making vegetable grow bags. Karuna Pain and Palliative Care Society has already made hundreds of grow bags by reusing election flex prints. Don’t throw away the non-biodegradable flex boards after polls, give it to me,” he said.
The BJP candidate P.S. Sreedharan Pillai said his party will do whatever is possible for reducing use of plastic and flex boards during the campaign. “We will avoid such material to maximum possible extent. Even though use of cloth material for campaigning might be a costly affair, we will sincerely try to make the campaign eco friendly with the help of public,” he said.
Prior to all elections; Lok Sabha, assembly and local bodies, it’s common for most political parties to make big announcements about reducing the use of non biodegradable material for poll campaign. But once the campaign gathers momentum, they indulge in competitive use of not just flex but also plastic material. However, experts say evolving a consensus among political parties on reducing use of flex and plastic may not be possible, but Election Commission could come out with strict guidelines on restricting the use of such dangerous material which will also be binding on the candidates.
