The West Asia conflict has had a direct impact on the campaigns of political parties in poll-bound Bengal, with the cost of flex banners rising by around 20 per cent.

Printing industry representatives said that since plastic granules, an essential component in the manufacture of flex banners, are made from crude oil through a multi-stage process, reduced fuel supply due to the West Asia crisis has hiked the price of production.

"The cost of flex production has risen by around 15–20 per cent due to this war situation. We have nothing to do with it," said Gour Saha, the proprietor of RG Digital, a well-known printing house in Kalna, East Burdwan.

Not only Saha, but many others involved in the printing industry admitted that the production cost of flex banners had gone up because of the West Asia conflict and the resultant impact on oil.

"Political parties and their candidates usually prefer flex banners that are sized 5x3 feet for greater outdoor visibility. Earlier, to print a flex banner of that size used to cost ₹95. But now it costs ₹115," said Murshid Alam Ostagar, owner of Ostagar Print and Flex at North 24-Parganas' Hasnabad.

A source said an Assembly poll candidate usually prints 3,000 to 4,000 flexes.

"The cost of printing 3,000 pieces used to be ₹2.85 lakh before the war. Now, any candidate who wants to print the same number of flexes has to pay ₹60,000 extra," the source said.

Representatives of the flex printing industry claimed that political parties have been comparing current prices with those during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and asking why costs have increased so much in this short span.

"We are explaining to them that the war situation has increased the price of flex. It is difficult to make some people understand as they are not ready to believe that there is a connection between crude oil and plastic granules," said a printing press owner in Birbhum.

Many flex producers have been asking political parties to reduce the size of their flex banners and hoardings to cope with the price hike.

"We have been suggesting to our clients (political party leaders) that they compromise on size this time. Parties normally use flexes of 5x3 feet, but now we are requesting them to opt for 4x2 feet. Some agree, many don't," said Saha. "However, political leaders across parties are reluctant to compromise on the size of flex banners during elections."