Weeks before a billion Indians vote, political merchandise sales pick up

Weeks before India heads into a two-month-long election with nearly a billion voters, political party merchandise and flag makers are expanding operations and working overtime to meet a surge in demand. One such factory owner, Mukesh Agarwal, said there are as many as 40 similar factories in Mathura, a temple town in Uttar Pradesh, India's largest state and a key political battleground. "The cheapest and best items used for political campaigns are banners and flags," Agarwal said.