Dhaba serving NaMo rotis in Varanasi asked to shut down

Taking a cue from Western countries, including the US Presidential election, election merchandising has emerged as a major trend in the ongoing elections.

Aam Aadmi Party has also tried to make use of various merchandise such as caps, t-shirts and their election symbol 'broom', while it has now also put Urdu slogans on its caps -- apparently to garner more votes from Muslim community which accounts for over three lakh voters.

Varanasi has over 16 lakh voters and it goes to polls on May 12, while campaign will end tomorrow.

AAP's Kejriwal held a massive roadshow on Friday where minority community was seen in large numbers.

Makers and sellers of many election linked merchandise say that they began doing so after huge orders were placed with them by supporters of AAP and BJP.

A senior Congress leader charged that the markets are being flooded with such products to create a "forced" wave, while similar charges were made by many others from other opposition parties.

Besides Modi and Kejriwal, Congress' Ajay Rai is also in fray in this Lok Sabha seat.