The good-old election graffiti are back with a bang, painting the walls of Kerala as local body elections approach. These simple yet stunning artworks grab eyes with their classic calligraphy and bright colours. Even though election campaigns have changed a lot over time, political parties and candidates don’t want to miss this timeless street art. The graffiti style itself has evolved, with fresh colours, designs, and fonts that keep up with today's tastes, say veteran artists. Leading the charge is Sajan C. John from Kadamakudy. He and his team of 12 graffiti artists have brightly decorated over 1,000 walls across Ernakulam district for different parties. “We try to make every writing colourful and impressive. A wall art is the first step in an election campaign. It sets the mood of the campaign,” shares Mr. Sajan. Ramesh P.S., a graffiti artist from Ernakulam since 1992, nods in agreement but worries about fewer youngsters joining the art these days. He explains how this art has come a long way—from using colour powders to water-based emulsion paint, which dries quickly and can withstand weather. Often, these artists create designs on the spot, wrapping up their work in just 15-20 minutes! Sha Nettoor, with 35 years of graffiti experience, adds that perfect calligraphy is the secret sauce. “The letters should be perfect, then only will people like our work,” he says. Sometimes candidates even ask for fancy 3D fonts, but not every wall allows it. A fun twist appeared in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections where printed candidate faces on synthetic cloths became popular to decorate walls—but for local elections, simplicity rules: just names, party symbols, and slogans. The cost? Only ₹500 to ₹800 for a 60 sq ft wall, much cheaper than printing materials. BJP’s councillor T.C. Pramodkumar shares, “The cost of graffiti is less compared to printed materials. It makes only a small part of the campaign expenses. Also, an attractive graffiti stays in people’s minds.” These days, social media is buzzing with reels showing artists painting party symbols to energetic beats. Candidates love these clips and often get videos shot while the graffiti is still in progress! Mr. Shaji, another artist, laughs about this trend of live painting videos. The political flavour added by such reels was perfectly served when Union Minister Suresh Gopi was seen painting graffiti in Thrissur. And a viral moment came from Alappuzha when a Spanish tourist joined local artists to draw the CPI(M) symbol on a wall. Election graffiti is proving that old-school charm and modern media make a thrilling combo on Kerala’s streets!