Which way is wind blowing? Towards the villagers' homes

The weekend starting Saturday July 8 will see hundreds of migrant laborers leave the city of Kolkata to cast their votes in the rural polls. 

- DOLA MITRA

They include riskhaw pullers, domestic helpers, construction workers, vegetable vendors, guards at residential and other buildings, electricians, plumbers and a host of others from the lower-income group workforce who migrated to the city for livelihoods but whose names are still registered on the voting lists at their respective villages. July 8 is the date of the three-tier Panchayat elections when rural voters will exercise their franchise to elect representatives to the three rural administrations, the Gram Panchayats, the Panchayat Committees and the Zilla Parishads.

"I never miss the chance to cast my vote," says Malati Mandal, a 55-year-old fruits and vegetables seller at one of Kolkata's biggest retail markets, Lake Market. Spreading banana leaves - as lining before placing her fare on it-on the pavement where she sells seasonal greens, fruits and vegetables, she says that with only three days to go she has "totally decided" whom she will vote for and says "My vote will go to the person who deserves it most."