Poll graffiti have become so common and predictable during elections in Kerala that, for the most part, they seldom draw comment or even a second glance.
But that apparently was not the case when they first began making an appearance on the election scene. ‘Wall writings,’ for all their novelty and campaign value, were also viewed with a certain amount of consternation, given their nuisance value in defacing government and private property.
Documents from the Travancore-Cochin era reveal the gravity with which ‘Writing on walls and buildings for election propaganda’ was viewed back then. They even prompted questions in the Travancore-Cochin Legislative Assembly with one member even asking whether a ban was planned!
