KOZHIKODE: The bikes and scooters of youngsters in the city are undergoing a makeover in tune with their affiliations with various political parties. The graffiti of political party leaders, flags and symbols are all getting ready to be pasted onto the painted bikes, even though the Motor Vehicle Department has strictly restricted the colour change of bikes without the permit of the RTO.
The outlets involved in preparing number plates of vehicle are the ones mainly involved in altering bikes, especially colors and designs to suit various political parties for campaigning. “The trend has just started and our outlets alone have completed alteration works for more than 25 bikes, mainly scooters that have ample space for pasting graffiti stickers”, said Isham Mehar, who runs the bike alteration outlet in Kallayi.
Since bikes mostly attract people and they keep on moving, campaigners chose it as one of the best ways to spread their message rather than pasting posters or hanging boards, he suggested. Since stickers are easily removable, people find it more exciting to give new looks to their bikes.
Bikes repainted into red, green, orange and yellow are mainly used for election campaigns and carry graffiti and images of politicians. Even cars and vans have also been turned into beautiful campaigning platforms this season. Each piece of graffiti or stickers used for vehicles costs between Rs 300 and Rs 500.
“It is violative of MVD rules if a bike or any vehicle changes color to something other than the one registered in the RC book”, said Regional Transport officer K Premanadan. “Since changing colors of bikes and pasting stickers has become rampant especially during this election season, we will keep a check on such vehicles violating norms,” he added.
