Nagpur: Festivals apart, slum dwellers spread across Nagpur's 426 slums, have a joyous time every election. Their joy stems from the goodies (read cash, food and other perks) they get clandestinely in return for the orchestrated "show of strength" at political rallies. And with less than two weeks to go for Maharashtra Assembly elections, candidates in Nagpur are going all out to woo city's slum dwellers — who form a substantial voting bloc and have the potential to tip the scales. Hence it doesn't come as a surprise that same chunk of slum dwellers swing allegiance with different parties every day depending upon the inducements.
Sources said in a bid to project popularity, candidates "pay" slum dwellers to join them as they campaign through neighbourhoods creating an image of significant local backing. "The strategy is simple: candidates hire groups of slum residents to walk behind them, forming a large entourage to make it appear of having a strong grassroots support. In return, men are paid Rs 500 each, while women get Rs 300 for participating in such campaigns," slum dwellers from various localities in the city told TOI. Many slum dwellers are also offered meals and even liquor as part of the daily campaigning benefits, a tactic designed to ensure steady turnout at such display of public support, they said.
Residents from areas like Sangam Chawl, Kachipura, and other densely populated slums skip their regular work to participate in such rallies regularly. Some of such rallyists told TOI that they choose to "bunk" work because the inducements offered during campaign season provide a steady source of income.
According to local political observers, this strategy of gathering crowds helps candidates create a strong impression in their constituencies. For many voters, seeing a candidate surrounded by a large group of supporters during a door-to-door campaign sends a message of widespread popularity and a significant following. This staged "show of strength" can influence perceptions, giving an impression that a candidate has substantial backing from the community and possibly swaying undecided voters.
Nagpur's slums, which include 415 notified slums, house a significant portion of the city's urban poor, making them a valuable target for campaign efforts. Constituencies with high concentrations of slum residents, such as Nagpur North (101 slums) and Nagpur West (85 slums), are at the centre of these outreach efforts, with candidates focusing heavily on winning over these areas. Other constituencies, like Nagpur Central (67 slums), Nagpur East (54 slums), Nagpur South (50 slums), and Nagpur South West (68 slums), also hold considerable sway, making slum voters critical to electoral outcomes.
In recent years, slum dwellers have emerged as informed voters who are aware of their needs and expectations from elected representatives. Social activists say slum residents have become more discerning, increasingly judging candidates by their promises and past performance rather than temporary campaign season incentives. Although financial perks and giveaways may draw crowds, many slum voters now carefully evaluate which candidates will genuinely address issues like sanitation, water supply, housing, and healthcare.
The presence of Nagpur's slum residents in campaign rallies not only amplifies candidates' visibility but also adds an aura of legitimacy to their popularity, potentially shaping voter perceptions as these slum communities exercise their power to influence the election.