Sunil Kumar (left) speaks to residents of Alinagar on Friday morning. Picture by Jai Prakash

Scorching heat and cost factor have forced candidates in the fray for the upcoming Patna Municipal Corporation elections to take to door-to-door campaigning.

The poll campaign, which has gained steam in the past few days, has not yet seen large rallies, a common spectacle before the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

There are a large number of limitations on the candidates. First, a municipal candidate can only spend Rs 40,000 and second, the day temperature is unbearable. These two factors have forced all candidates contesting the 71 seats of the PMC to reach out to voters at their doorstep.

Even door-to-door campaigning has been restricted to the morning hours. As the temperature rises, the number of candidates on the streets comes down.

However, these factors have not saved the candidates from facing uncomfortable questions from the electorate, angry at the poor civic services. But the candidates are barely moved. They are bracing for every reaction of the common man and are ready to woo the voters.

Accompanied by supporters and followers, the aspirants are knocking every door under their respective wards.

“I started full-fledged campaigning today and met over 60 families in Sheikhpura locality. The response was terrific, as two water borings have been approved in the locality in the past few months. Many of them also complained about the pathetic condition of arterial roads in the ward,” said Aabha Lata, the sitting councillor of ward number 4 of the corporation.

She added: “However, I had to wind up by 11am as the heat became unbearable. I will go and meet people at their doorstep only in the morning hours everyday.”

Suneel Kumar, who is fighting the poll from ward number 10, said he preferred to meet people between 6am and 10am. “After that it gets so hot that it becomes difficult to move around on foot,” he said.

Many candidates said they have already ordered for many copies of their poll symbols for distribution among voters.

“My poll symbol is kite. Luckily that is very cheap. I have ordered hundreds of kites from old Patna area to distribute them among the electorate. Had the symbol been something like pressure cooker, we would only have had to hand over pamphlets to the people,” she said.

Many, however, are not that lucky. Mumtaz Jahan, a candidate from ward number 59, said her poll symbol was an aeroplane. “I would hire an autorickshaw for campaigning as the budget is very limited,” she said.

Vinay Kumar Pappu, who has already been declared the winner from ward number 28 unopposed is set to make his way through to the PMC.

Meanwhile, many residents claimed that with the elections round the corner, the sanitation work, including garbage collection in various localities, have taken a beating.

“Many sanitation workers are busy in election campaigns of their favourite candidates. As a result, PMC services are getting hampered because of lack of manpower,” complained Kidwaipuri resident Ritika Roy.

However, PMC officials sought to allay the apprehensions of the common man.

“People should not worry about the services we provide them. It is true that the civic body will not be able to take any major decision till the election is over. But at no point, will we allow PMC workers to participate in campaigns while neglecting their duties,” a senior civic body official said.