Being carried out for a “smooth professional delivery” of the slips, the exercise is being carried out in a number of wards in Kolkata, particularly Burrabazar where Congress has fielded its candidates.

“We have initiated a professional approach and are using courier companies for door-to-door delivery of voter slips. We have also engaged college students and youths for the delivery as this also generates employment for them,” said Swarup Bose, general secretary of West Bengal Chhatra Parishad, who is overlooking a number of wards in north Kolkata.

The youths are paid from Rs 200 to Rs 300 for delivering the slips in a particular ward.

“The initiative has gained in popularity throughout Kolkata, especially in Burrabazar,” said Bose.

Party insiders, however, attribute the move to a dearth of workers and supporters the Congress has faced, post its break up with the Trinamool.

“Though Congress has fielded candidates in 115 of the total 141 wards, they do not have enough supporters to work with the candidates in some of the wards. The situation has further worsened due to the breach in alliance (with Trinamool),” said a Congress leader.

Congress sources also claimed that those still with the party are reluctant to work in ‘weak’ wards that inspire little optimism for success. This has made campaigning more difficult for candidates.