(New Delhi) Left-wing opposition party in India has launched its own scent to woo voters ahead of a regional poll, with “a scent of brotherhood, love and socialism” that can “end hate” .
The juice, composed of “22 natural essences” in reference to the elections scheduled for early 2022 in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, was presented by the Samajwadi Party. The bottle, in the party’s red and green colors, is stamped with its electoral logo representing a bicycle.
“When you use it, the anger and hatred in the air will be defeated,” a local MP and member of this party, Pushpraj Jain, promised.
“We will also present another perfume with 24 natural essences” for the next elections in 2024, he added. The perfume was distributed to journalists and party employees at a press conference without it being specified when and how voters could get it.
According to local media, the party leader, Akhilesh Yadav, former chief minister of state, had already launched in 2016 four perfumes inspired by four cities of Uttar Pradesh to celebrate his four years in this office.
Mr. Yadav hopes his formation will supplant the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of the Hindu nationalist prime minister in the state which is the most populous in the country with its approximately 230 million inhabitants.
Uttar Pradesh has been ruled since 2017 by the BJP with local leader Yogi Adityanath, a 49-year-old Hindu monk. Close to Mr. Modi, he is known for his fiery statements against Muslims. A new electoral victory during the elections expected in February or March could place him in the position of potential successor to the 71-year-old Mr. Modi.
The elections in Uttar Pradesh, which has given the country eight of its prime ministers since independence, are seen as a barometer of the popularity of the ruling power in New Delhi. As in other states, politicians and parties do their utmost to win, with gifts or even money given.