Vendors on the crowded Allimal Street in Tiruchi’s shopping district are doing brisk business in poll-related merchandise as flags, scarves, and banners bearing party logos and leaders’ images are in great demand in the run-up to the Assembly elections.

Allimal Street is home to wholesalers of plastic disposables and decoration items. “We are seeing a growing demand for election-related material from party workers and individual customers since March. A lightweight cloth scarf dyed in party colours has become a big hit. We have multi-coloured versions to suit the particular political party,” V. Rakul, proprietor, Lakshmi Paper Store, told The Hindu.