Open canvassing 'helped spread the word better'

Muscat: Election fever is catching up in Oman with hoardings, banners and posters sprouting up in different parts of the country, which is experiencing for the first time a wider campaign for the second open elections in the country, to be held on October 27.

In the first open elections in 2003, the campaign was limited to personal contacts or 'sabla', traditional village gatherings.

The Interior Ministry has broadened campaign opportunities, allowing candidates to canvass by putting up posters, banners and utilising advertisement hoardings at public places.

Candidates have also been allowed to place advertisements in local newspapers informing voters about their candidature for the October 27 elections for 83 seats to the Majlis Ashura, or the Advisory Council.

'No promises'

The three Arabic dailies have been flooded with advertisements, proclaiming the credentials of various candidates.

"We can talk about ourselves as much as we want through posters or advertisements in newspapers but we are barred from making any promises," Aziza Bint Salim Al Habsi, the first woman candidate from Seeb constituency in Muscat, told Gulf News yesterday.

"The posters and advertisements have helped me spread the word better," believes journalist Aziza, who has placed seven posters in Seeb. "With my pregnancy in an advanced stage, it is difficult to move around a lot," she said.

"Initially, I struggled to reach out to my voters but now with this open campaign I am better known in my constituency," she said, hailing the government move. "The rule is fair for now."

Three-time winner Younis Bin Sabeel Bin Eisa Al Balushi said, "There are different ways people are doing it in different parts of the country but this is the first time and we will definitely evolve further for one uniform style", referring to different styles of posters and banners.

Mahmoud Sakhi Al Balushi, who withdrew his candidature from Muttrah constituency, believes that allowing campaigning the way it is being done now was a huge step forward.

Veteran Raheela Al Riyami, a Shura member for three terms, is depending on her work. "I haven't resorted to plastering my posters and banners but my volunteers are coordinating [the] campaign by reminding voters about the date and location where they must go to vote," she said.