TV sales drop 80% due to TD’s election promise

Hyderabad

March 24: Sales of television sets have come down in semi-urban and rural areas thanks to the Telugu Desam’s promise to provide colour TV sets to poor and middle class families if it is voted to power.
Majority of people in rural areas have postponed their plans to purchase TV sets till the election process is completed. Of course, if the Congress or the PR comes to power, TV sales will go up again.
Though voters are happy at the TD’s promise, owners of showrooms are not very enthusiastic.
Electronic showrooms generally witness brisk business during Ugadi and summer season. However, this time sales have dropped by 80 per cent. TD’s star campaigner Junior NTR has reiterated the promise of colour TVs throughout his campaign in North Andhra and other coastal districts.
“The TD’s assurance has completely disturbed our business and we could not sell even one TV set in the last one month,” said Mr Devata Srinivasa Rao, proprietor of Lakshmi Ganesh General Stores of Narsipatnam in Visakhapatnam district. “We are not even getting enquiries.”
Mr Ch B.P.R. Chowdary of Gemini Plaza in Kakinada fears that many TV showrooms would be closed down if the TD comes back to power.
“Distribution of TV sets by DMK government had led to closure of several shops in Tamil Nadu,” he said. “I am worried about the future. All TV showroom owners are now anxiously awaiting election results.”
Creative Engineers of Visakhapatnam, which supplies TV sets to several showrooms, said there was drastic fall in sales in the coastal area.