Lucknow, Mar 27: The onset of the poll season has brought the humble Khadi back in fashion with politicians of all hues and colours flocking to shops stocking Khadi kurta-pyjamas in the state capital. The famous Gandhi `topi`, though, has a few takers, shop-keepers admit. Big and small shops here reported hike in sales of all Khadi wares, except the Gandhi topi, ever since polls were announced for the 14th Lok Sabha.
Haider Ali Ansari, president, Bharat Bunkar Sewa Samiti, told mediapersons the sale of Khadi apparels remains static the year round but increases during elections. Not only Khadi, well-to-do political leaders even opt for silk kurta-pyjamas for them selves and their supporters. It is not just the typical kurta-pyjamas, but Khadi in all its variations, including trousers, safari suits, shirts and sari for women, have suddenly caught the fancy of our `Khadi brigade`.
Taking cue from political personalities, even apolitical mortals, including scribes, have also started donning the Khadi with aplomb. Raj Kumar Pandey, supporter of a National Party from Basti, bought four pairs of Khadi kurta-pyjamas so that during hectic poll days there is no urgency of washing them to wear a crisp pair each day.
``Khadi gets you instant respect from layman as well as political peers and colleagues,`` confided a middle-level leader of a party.
Bureau Report