Motihari, April 15: At a time when businessmen of Bihar have failed to cash in on the panchayat election season, their counterparts from Uttar Pradesh are leaving no stone unturned to make hay in the electoral fair.

A large number of traders have arrived here from Gorakhpur with election-related materials and symbols, which are purchased by candidates contesting the panchayat elections for various posts under 405 panchayats under 27 blocks in this district.

All these traders have procured the election materials for the forthcoming panchayat elections from a trader in Gorakhpur, who had them printed soon after the poll dates were declared in Bihar, giving a financial dodge to the local traders, who took a late decision to cash in on the opportunity. The election materials are mostly based on the election symbols of the candidates in fray for the elections finalised by the state election commission for various posts that include mukhiyas, sarpanchs, panchs, gram panchayat ward members and members of the district board.

“We sell election-related materials like pamphlets, hand-bills, badges, caps, vehicle stickers and samples of ballot papers at places in major block headquarters,” said a trader from UP, Kanhaiya.

He added: “We are around 20 people and we all hail from Sant Kushinagar town of UP.”

“The businessmen selling these materials have saved the candidates from unnecessary harassment,” said Upendra Paswan of Mahua west panchayat.

Pramila Devi, the sitting mukhiya of Barharwa Lakhansen panchayat, Sher Mohammad of Barashankar panchayat, Anju Devi of Bakhari panchayat and Madhu Devi of Nagdaha panchayat said the materials come in handy and has relieved them of unnecessary hassle of visiting other towns to look for the materials.

Several sitting mukhiyas including Ram Padarath Sharma, Someshwar Baitha and Amit Upadhya, who have been holding the post for several terms, told The Telegraph: “The traders have saved our valuable time which we can use for the betterment of our area and use the time for campaigning. They have ensured all kinds of election-related materials are available. This is the quality of good businessmen. They have come here at the right time.”