SMS with campaign slogans have replaced road shows with singers, noisy street campaigns, public meetings and door-to-door campaigns.

This year's electioneering is extremely low-key in the absence of colourful and noisy campaigning, as no political party dares to violate a plethora of 'thou shall not' diktat's of the MPF.

The MPF, an organisation sponsored by the Presbyterian Church in which all the major churches excluding the Baptist Church and the Salvation Army, main NGOs and political parties are represented, is for political and electoral reforms aiming at cleaner and less expensive campaigns.

The campaigning may be low-key as desired by the MPF, but may not be inexpensive as more mobile handsets and SIM cards are issued to party workers and supporters to reach out to voters.

One political party is reported to have purchased hundreds of handsets, each costing Rs 1,500 to be distributed among party workers, especially in the rural areas.