Distributing freebies during elections is not new to Karnataka. But this time, Election Commission officials have seen a rise in articles such as pressure cookers, mixers, sarees, ornaments and much more – all with an eye to woo the woman voter.
The latest electoral rolls data revealed that women voters outnumber men in 112 Assembly constituencies in Karnataka.
The overall gender ratio of electors stands at 989 women voters per 1,000 men voters, and women are likely to play a big role in the election on Wednesday.
In 2018, there were 5,05,15,011 voters, among which 2,49,10,888 were female and 2,55,99,295 were male – a margin of about 6.88 lakh.
This time, however, there are 5,30,85,566 electors, including 2,66,82,156 male and 2,63,98483 female voters – the margin dropping to 2.83 lakh.
On Sunday, the Belagavi district police seized 1,800 pressure cookers worth Rs 25 lakh from a farmhouse in Bailhongal Assembly segment that was allegedly supposed to be distributed among women.
A police official who was part of the raid says that political parties are luring women voters by distributing such freebies.
Women have been stepping out and exercising their franchise in larger numbers for a variety of reasons.
On a weekend, The Indian Express travelled from Bengaluru to Mangala, a hamlet in Gundlupet taluk, to speak to women, across age groups and educational backgrounds, about the rise in women voter turnout and the factors they consider before voting for a candidate.
Out of the eight Assembly constituencies visited, Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Central, Bengaluru South, Malavalli, T Narasipura, Gundlupete, Chamundeshwari and Magadi, four had a higher number of women voters.
For most, casting their vote is a duty they have been exercising, hoping for a better outcome.
Both rural and urban dwellers, from senior citizens to youngsters, lamented that candidates from across parties have been assuring that they would look into their problems but return only to “ask for votes” during the next elections.
They added that freebies and false promises by political parties would not work for them.
Providing basic facilities such as housing, drinking water, roads, streetlights and reduction in prices of essential items were what rural women, especially those without education, emphasised while urban voters stressed education, employment, safety, health care facilities and infrastructure as factors.
Some voters also mentioned that it was important for the candidate to have a good cultural and educational background with experience and proven capability of solving problems as a factor for them to choose the candidate.
Here’s what women voters want:
“As a citizen of India, I feel it is important for a country to give its citizens dignity and carry itself with dignity outside. A government that provides a good future for the coming generations. There should be enough employment opportunities, social stability and economic growth. After all, if we are all striving and struggling it is to provide our children a better future. I am also looking for a government that will not divide the people. It has to be a government that looks at India as one, not based on caste or creed politics and not a government that does not believe in dynasty politics.”
— Kalpana Singh, educationalist, a resident of Bengaluru
“We have good education facilities but there is a lack of employment opportunities. Often we come across cases of women harassment which makes us feel unsafe. There is a constant rise in the price of commodities which makes it hard for most common people. And since our government is already focusing on developing infrastructure like the Metro and six-lane highways, I would look forward to a candidate to work on wildlife conservation and announce protected areas to preserve wildlife. I wish to vote for a candidate who would address all these issues and work for the betterment of all people.”
— Arpitha S Murthy, senior HR executive, a resident of Mysuru
“Before voting for any candidate I would consider their leadership qualities. Many politicians are inaccessible once they are voted into power. I would not want that from a person that I vote for. I would like them to create employment opportunities, and public facilities for all citizens regardless of their castes.”
— Meghana, a student and resident of Bengaluru
“Being a first-time voter, I will vote for whichever candidate will concentrate on women’s safety, scholarships for students, and improve the bus facilities and road infrastructure in the outskirts of the city. I hope they also create more employment opportunities so that students do not have to struggle once they finish their education.”
— Kavya, a student and resident of Bengaluru
“We cannot meet our daily expenses if we do not carry out our business every day. We have to pitch tents and sell our vegetables on the road. I would vote for a candidate who would provide us with a place to set up a vegetable market. All the candidates we have voted for till now give us false assurance but do not help us after they are voted into power. It is my duty to vote and I have been voting with the hope that the new government provides us space for our business.”
— Prema, a vegetable vendor and resident of Malavalli
“A lot of people face unemployment issues after completing their education. Even if people secure a job, they do not get enough salary because of this a lot of people wish to go abroad. India is still a developing country, why can’t the government create better employment opportunities here? Apart from this, there are so many instances of violence against women. No one has done anything about it till now. It is just published in the media but no one takes action on such issues. I wish they would focus on such problems that prevail in society.”
— Bhavana, a working woman and resident of Malavalli
“It has been eight years since we shifted to Bengaluru in search of a job. The prices of all commodities have also increased. We do not have a house or agricultural land. I vote with the hope that the candidate helps us get a house and means to earn. If not for us then at least for our children.”
— Rajamani, a resident of T Narasipura, who moved to Bengaluru in search of a job
“In our village, we face regular issues with water supply. We don’t have proper houses as well. Every time it rains, water starts to drip down from the ceiling. Apart from that, we do not have proper bus facilities and the very few buses that pass by do not enter our village because the mud road is uneven. We have to walk for more than half a kilometre in the dark since there are no streetlights and the worst part is there are a lot of elephants that wander around our village at night. I hope the next government that we vote for will look into all these problems.”
— Roopa, homemaker, a resident of Karemala
“Although we vote, we have no proper houses nor do we have bus facilities. Only one bus passes by in the evening. There are no proper road facilities either. I will vote for someone who will provide us with all these facilities.”
— Jyothi, homemaker, a resident of Karemala
“All I want is proper roads in my village apart from that we have received all facilities that we require, including schools and health care centres, from the candidate that we have been voting for.”
— Suvamma, farmer, a resident of Magadi
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