In trousers and shirt, Banna Gupta (left) and Upender Singh campaign on Wednesday. (Bhola Prasad and Animesh Sengupta)

No one said the khadi isn’t comfortable, but some people simply need their jeans, even if they do happen to be netas seeking votes.

It’s a sign of the times that sitting MLA of Jamshedpur West, agriculture minister and Congressman Banna Gupta doesn’t have to maintain a stereotyped image. The young minister loves his jeans and trousers and flaunts them too.

Also, JMM’s Upender Singh, Gupta’s rival in the prestigious Jamshedpur West Assembly seat, prefers shirts and trousers as his campaign gear.

“Dikhave se door rahta hun. Neta ek samajik karyakarta hai. Jo kapde log pehente hain, unhe bhi pehenna chahiye (I maintain a safe distance from hypocrisy. Political leaders are servants of society. Their dress should reflect that of the general public),” Gupta, clad in a white full-sleeved shirt and black jeans, told The Telegraph after a padyatra in Sakchi on Wednesday.

According to the 42-year-old sitting MLA and agriculture minister, the common masses have almost started hating netas clad in the traditional khadi kurta-pyjama.

“During padyatras, I am comfortable in jeans and shirt with sneakers while for other kinds of campaigns, I prefer trousers, a shirt and leather shoes,” he added.

JMM’s Upender Singh, in the fray for the first time, spoke on similar lines.

“I face problems walking in khadi kurta-pyjamas. It is only good for people who move in cars. I’m comfortable in trousers and shirts. I also prefer bundi while campaigning,” the 51-year-old businessman elaborated on his dress code.

On Wednesday afternoon, Singh, however, sported a pair of jeans, a shirt and a navy blue bundi. For footwear, he chose white sneakers.

Both Gupta and Singh have another similarity. No high-end brands, please.