Jaipur, Nov 5 (IANS): The sale of pamphlets, posters and hoardings, favourite campaigning items for political parties in Rajasthan, are likely to witness a drop during this assembly polls owing to restrictions and check on expenses by the Election Commission (EC), manufactures said.

Rajasthan with 200 assembly seats goes to the polls Dec 1.

The EC has issued an order to all district collectors in which they have been asked to ensure each poster, banner, hoarding or other such items used for publicity by the political parties carries the information about its manufacture and publisher.

"A letter containing identification proof and proclaiming that particular batch of posters, hoardings or pamphlets was manufactured by a publisher will have to be self-attested by him in the presence of two witnesses," said a senior district administration officer.

The officer said the publisher will then send the letter to the printer.

A copy of the letter and copies of the published items will have to be forwarded to the chief election officer and the district magistrate concerned, he added.

Manufactures of these items feel restrictions imposed by the EC may lead to drop of 50 percent sales.

Jaipur's manufacturer of publicity and promotional items Rajesh Agrawal told IANS the sale of posters, pamphlets and hoardings is likely to be negligible in this election.

"These items used to be in huge demand during elections in Rajasthan. We have not yet received any major orders from political parties. They are unlikely to come in the coming days," said Agrawal.

Another manufacturer said the restrictions have led to a change in the kind of promotional items used by political parties.

"This time, items like T-shirts, stoles and wrist bands carrying logo of political parties are in demand. These items cost from about only 30 paisa per item to Rs.30 in the wholesale market," said the manufacturer.