MYSURU: Garlands made of almonds and raisins are all the rage in Mysuru this election season. And the bigger, the better, apparently: One JD(S) supporter is getting ready to welcome JD(S) candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy to Mandya with a 300kg backbreaker later this week.KRS resident Karthik Gowda has ordered the massive garland, made of raisins, for the 28-year-old actor-politician. These exotic garlands can set a customer back by between Rs 6,000 and Rs 3.5 lakh, flower decorators say. Gowda would not confirm how much he’s paying for the garland but, with quality raisins selling at Rs 600 per kilo, and the principal component of Nikhil’s garland costing Rs 1.8 lakh, the order’s likely to be at the high end of the scale.Flower decorator Dhanraj, 39, confirmed to TOI that he had received the order from Gowda and said he would employ 20 workers to make the garland.“It’s a big task, but with 20 workers, we should be able to complete it within a day,” he said. “Nikhil will be the first political candidate to receive a raisin garland.”“I have over the years gained expertise in making garlands from various flowers, fruits and dry fruits,” Dhanraj said. “My apple and raisin garlands are popular. During last year’s assembly election, I made eight apple garlands.”Gowda is not the only JD(S) supporter in Mandya to arrange for large a garland for Nikhil. Others have placed orders for apple garlands weighting up to 200kg for Nikhil, and Ambareesh fans have asked for similar garlands for his rival, independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh. They will be delivered to Mandya in few days. Decorators in Mysuru said apple garlands were in huge demand. “The demand for apple and raisin garlands went north from the time the elections were declared,” said Mohiyuddheen of HMI Fruits and Co in Bamboo Bazar. “The good thing about these garlands is that they can be distributed later for people to eat.”

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