Won’t Leave Work to Go Vote For Free : MP Migrants in Delhi

Video Producer: Fabeha Syed

Video Editor: Sandeep Suman

In a few days, elections are going to start in Madhya Pradesh. MP has a huge population of people who migrate from there for various reasons. According to 2011 Census, there were approximately 11 lakh seasonal migrants out of 50 lakh total migrants from MP.

The Quint spoke to a few people who migrated from MP and are now settled in Delhi. We tried to find out if they are going to visit their hometown to vote for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Election. And if they do, how do they choose the right candidate to vote for?

“We’ll vote according to the situation of our city. See, the thing about voting is, we vote according to the situation of our city. So far, the BJP has been there, but this time, the Congress is coming to power. That’s because of some things that happened here.  

Dashrath Ahirwal, Migrant, District Tikamgarh (MP)

“We see the candidate first. If they look like they would work for us and our area, then we vote.”

Mohan, Migrant, Gwalior district (MP)

Maximum number of people migrate from Jhabua, Bhind, Gwalior, Chhattarpur and Tikamgarh districts of MP, which is why in 2013 MP elections, the percentage of votes from these places was low as compared to the total voter turnout of MP, which was fairly high at 72.21 percent.

Only 2-4 percent migrants work in the organised sector. For the rest working in the unorganised sector, it becomes a challenge to go back to their hometowns for the elections.

“Travelling costs us, plus there is money loss. We go and cast vote, it’s our right to make our government. “

Indrajit, Migrant, District Chhattarpur (MP)

“Who will leave work and take the painful journey only to vote for free?”

Ramdevi, Migrant, District Gwalior (MP)

The chief election commission of MP had ordered the district magistrates to employ the migrants under MNREGA so they could stay back for the elections when they come home for Diwali.