Poem

Electoral Democracy and the Woman Voter

Opinion | Poem | Anthony Dias | 25-Nov-2024

Politicians of all ilk on the prowl, find always a way

To weaken, even subvert, democracy’s sway

When they smell defeat due to anti-incumbency

The poor women voters they begin to fancy!

 

If ‘poverty is the biggest environment polluter’

It also is more often than not, a dignity robber                                       

The politicians use the vulnerable to win the election

By doling out cash and by other forms of manipulation

 

The ordinary poor do not know that they are manipulated

As the unearned money in their account gets accumulated

These freebies do not empower the women in any way

The Ladli Scheme is nothing but another clever giveaway

 

The corrupt System will not undergo any transformation

It will only invent new ways of oppression and corruption

The poor woman voter will be made a fool

As the various threats to democracy continue to rule

 

The threats come from not only the crony capitalist

It is also from the lying and hate-mongering communalist

The former exploits the people and the planet for profits

The latter cultivates a large number of homegrown fascists       

 

If we want to stop this woman-voter manipulation

The focus then cannot only be on EVM manipulation

As warned, that is something to be avoided as a distraction

The way forward, truly, is to invest fully in voter education

 

If we want to protect our democracy and save the Republic

The way forward is to educate and conscientize the Public

This demands sacrifices, risks and the pooling of Resources

Building human solidarities through Networks and Alliances

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 (The author is a Jesuit priest and can be reached at tony.dias23dem@gmail.com. The poem is his own thought, therefore personal.)

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