THERE ARE over 100 women candidates contesting civic elections. But, do they really have a say? Hardly, opine many and claim they are mere puppets in the hands of their husbands, brothers or other relatives.
Have a look at the poster of Narhi strongman Atul Yadav Bantu’s wife Durgesh Nandini Yadav, which appeals to the voters to vote for her as she is wife of Atul Yadav Bantu.
Another example in posh areas of Hazratganj from where Madhu Singh is contesting the elections for the second term. Her poster reads ‘Sister of Nagendra Singh Chauhan , please vote for her’. After having one term as corporator she is still not out of her brother’s shadow.
Similarly, former corporator Sarvan Kumar Azad has fielded his wife Manju Agarwal against Atul Yadav Bantu’s wife, her poster also reads wife of Sarvan Kumar Agarwal Azad.
Corporator from Raja Ram Mohan Rai ward Nagendra Singh Chauhan proudly says, “Why should she come out and beg for votes when I am there? She only comes out when she is required to. I am confident she will win again.”
Atul Yadav Bantu says, “My wife will not go out for votes. She will win election on the basis of my work during last five years. I am enough to win the elections for her.”
{{/usCountry}}Atul Yadav Bantu says, “My wife will not go out for votes. She will win election on the basis of my work during last five years. I am enough to win the elections for her.”
{{/usCountry}}Girish Mishra, former corporator from Sardar Patel ward, has fielded his wife. On the issue Mishra says, “No one knows my wife. But, every one knows me. All of a sudden my ward was declared reserved for women. I had no option but to field my wife as a candidate.”
Many corporators in last LMC House have changed loyalties to get tickets for their wives. Naveen Prakash Rastogi ‘Baba’, Sudhir Mishra, have left the BJP because their wives were denied tickets. A woman Congress worker says, “Most of the women have got the ticket because their husbands, brothers or other relatives were corporators.”
Well-known women activist, educationist Dr Nishi Pandey says, “This is a big setback to women empowerment. The political parties are providing tickets to woman candidates on the basis of their having an influential male support. This is a shameful situation.”