A March-April campaign in Tamil Nadu, under the scorching sun, can be gruelling. But while they are not out in the sun seeking people’s votes, the leaders of various political parties on the campaign trail are going to spend time inside vehicles that have been specially re-designed with plush interiors, modular kitchen, toilet, bed and home theatre.
A noted upholstery major in the city is busy designing vehicles for various political party leaders and this time, a special Mercedes Benz van is getting ready for DMK chief M. Karunanidhi.
Keeping a low profile, one of the partners of the firm told this paper that they have been doing the redesigning work since 1977 when yesteryear Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan, on a shoot in the Nilgiris, got the upholstery work for his Ambassador car done here.
Even former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi got his Ambassador car re-designed here after he saw the vehicle used by former Kerala chief minister K. Karunakaran during his visit to Kerala, the partner recalled.
For AIADMK party supremo J. Jayalalithaa, the firm had designed with value-added facility like hydraulic system fitted with a chair inside the campaign van facilitating her to address the electorate from the vehicle top. Likewise, Mr Karunanidhi’s van is getting ready with a suspended ramp for moving his revolving chair inside the vehicle.
The partner said the cost of re-designing works out to anywhere between `6-10 lakh depending upon the vehicle and the facilities opted for.
Besides the AIADMK, DMK and Congress leaders’ vehicles, the firm is working on a vehicle for Kongunadu Munnetra Kazhagam president Best Ramasamy at their Sivananda colony workshop in the city. Vehicles for deputy chief minister M.K. Stalin, PMK leader, Dr Ramadoss, TNCC president K.V. Thangkabalu, DMDK leader Vijayakanth have already been re-designed and sent to Chennai.