Wheels Of Campaign

Customised CVs are the preferred choice of politicians as they campaign for elections.

- Bhargav TS

India is in the election mode. Politicians, big and small, are campaigning all over the country to bag a seat in the parliament of what is often described as the most populous democracy in the world. Supporting their campaigns are customised CVs. These are buses, vans, and pickups. Found in various sizes and types to suit the grueling, high decibel campaign the politicians run, often reaching each and every doorstep in the constituency, customised CVs are estimated to be an Rs.300 crore industry. Comprising of converters and bodybuilders, it is largely unorganised. Capable of being structured into a pyramid, there are six players at the top. Their customising experience would amount to anywhere between Rupees five lakhs to Rupees-five crore. While simple modifications take a fortnight, complete re-modelling takes up to two months. The end result is a rolling juggernaut, replete with an office-cum-home environment inside, and a campaign van environment outside. With politicians worth their salt preferring to employ CVs as sophisticated as a Mercedes-Benz light CV or a Volvo luxury coach to something as mundane as a Mahindra Bolero Pickup, the business of customised CVs is a bit of a gray area for certain.