This story is from October 19, 2019

Daily-wage workers make most of the election rallies

Daily-wage workers make most of the election rallies
Pune: Most “mazdoor addas” — the job-hunt points of the daily wage earners’ — across the city look deserted this election season.
With the political parties offering them anything between Rs300 and Rs500 each to ensure their presence at the election rallies, the workers have a clear choice. Instead of waiting at the “addas” for hours
When it is business as usual, the workers gather at the mazdoor addas in places like Alandi, Chakan, Bhosari, Pimpri and Shirur in the morning, waiting for work to be undertaken at the construction sites, farms and marriage halls across the city.

However, these days, apart from the usual contractors, these pick-up points are also frequented by the organizers of the political rallies, to hire workers for increasing the turnout at their organized rallies.
“We had to stop an ongoing construction work of a bungalow as our workers were hired by the political parties for posing as a crowd at their rallies. Some of the party workers picked them from their houses in the morning, before they could even assemble at the common pick-up point,” said Balasaheb Gaikwad, a contractor from Chakan area.
“My duty now is to provide nearly hundred people for participating in a political party rally each day. The workers are happy to participate even though they usually make the same amount by working at the construction sites. The workers usually have their transportation and food covered as well,” said a contractor from Alandi.

Since there are three candidates contesting election from Khed-Alandi assembly constituency, the contractor said it has become a challenge for him to meet the increasing manpower requirements.
“I sent the same workers for attending the NCP rally in the morning and Shiv Sena rally in the evening. Neither of the party representatives cared because all they wanted was to project a bigger crowd in front of the senior functionary who were present at these rallies,” the contractor added.
Meanwhile, the rally organizers said it has now become increasingly difficult to gather a crowd, “There are very few people who want to listen to the speeches of senior party leaders these days. Only staunch followers turn up at the venue. Moreover, heavy rain further dampens the spirit. As a result, we are forced to rely on the hired followers,” said a political leader from Shirur.
The workers, however, are happy with the availability of new work.
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