It’s past work time on a weekday but small clots of young men mill about, sitting on wooden planks propped up by bricks – makeshift benches for daily discussions on chunavi mahaul (election buzz) in Chhattisgarh. As milky tea pass hands in mottled glasses, the discussion meanders from one topic to another – Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the record of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, the competing paddy sops announced by both major parties, the cash transfer pledges for women and the prospect of government jobs for young men in the area.
Then one man mentions the Congress’s repeated refrain on the campaign trail of a nationwide caste census and the tempo abruptly dips. “What’s that,” Devi asks, putting down the dregs of her tea on the table, her villagemen suddenly quiet. “Is it related to getting a new ration card?”
Around the table, a ripple of uncertainty courses through the men who were confidently holding forth on which party’s paddy promise was better a minute ago. Madan Sahu thinks counting castes will be divisive, but changes tack when his friends say the Congress is promising the move. “I don’t know much but I will vote for Congress,” he says. To his left, Murli Sahu is more strident. “There is no benefit of the caste census. It is merely a tool of Congress to win elections,” he says. But why – Manish counters him. Surprised at his friend’s response, Murli’s confidence ebbs. “I don’t know much about it,” he admits.
This story is from the November 16, 2023 edition of Hindustan Times.
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This story is from the November 16, 2023 edition of Hindustan Times.
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