The flexi banners screaming various slogans in support of a unified Andhra Pradesh are in demand, thanks to the Samaikyandhra agitation that had been continuing for the last 19 days.
The flexi banners seem to be the latest fad with several protestors choosing them to portray leaders as betrayers and to vent their anger.
Going by the number of flexies displayed in the town in last few days, it is natural to assume that the flexi making business might have soared to new heights since July 31, the first day of the agitation.
“Displaying a flexi is always a best way to express our opinion or resent. It has the visibility as well as cheap mode of publicity,’’ said Harikrishna, a student who has been actively participating in the protest.
However contrary to the expectations the flexi makers in Tirupati claim that they are suffering huge losses, likely any other business, since the agitation.
They say that though the organisations and parties fighting for the unified Andhra Pradesh are giving them offers, they are not getting orders from other parts of the district and also neighbouring districts like Nellore and Kadapa.
Speaking to Express a leading flexi maker in Tirupati, Anil said that their business declined up to 75 per cent due to the movement.
“We used to make flexies for different political events and other private events. But now all the political activities almost came to a halt due to the ongoing agitation and we are only limited to make flexies for protests, which are being taken up by the political parties jointly under the banner of various joint action committees (JACs),’’ said Anil.
These flexi makers used to get orders for private parties and functions.
However ever since the agitation gained momentum, private functions are not being held in the temple,” explained Anil.
Anil further added that besides Tirupati, they used to get orders from various parts of the district and also from neighbouring districts of Nellore and Kadapa.
“Many those who wanted to flexi for private occasions like marriages are not coming forward to arrange them due to lack of transportation facilities,” he said.
Other flexi makers in the town too expressed the similar view.