Laloo has voters here too

MUZAFFARPUR: Politics and netas don''t mean much to them, but they are most sincere voters. They won''t be able to tell the name of Prime Minister or even chief minister, but one name is stuck to their tongues and that is Laloo Prasad Yadav''s.
Who is he? "He... err... has done a lot for our ''madamjee'', and she says he will do a lot for us in future" is the common refrain."Madamjee" is Rani Begum, ward councillor of ward No 16 as also chairperson of Mahila Rashtriya Janata Dal''s Muzaffarpur district unit.
But before becoming all this, she was a part of the red-light area of Muzaffarpur, like them.
Ask these hapless women entangled in a profession that has given them only shame, tears and constant worry if their Laloo has done anything for them till now and they won''t be able to say a word.
Climbing up the stairs leading to Rani Begum''s abode, one arrives in a room with pictures of Laloo and Rani on the walls. When the lady arrives, one is amazed to see an exploited woman recast in the mould of a politician.
She has a heavy makeup on her face. "I am no longer a despicable human being. Society has accepted me as a leader," she says. "The women here are also citizens of this country and they have the right to vote and participate in politics as everyone else," she maintains.
Rani is surely the most privileged woman in the entire locality. Most others live in shabby, dungeon-like houses with only doors and no windows.
"I want a better life if not for me, at least for my son, but I don''t think politicians can change our life," says Chanda, adding, "Hamlog roj kuan khodte hain tab pani peete hain."
Most of them, however, deny that they are in flesh trade. They say they are professional dancers and singers. Suman has very little knowledge of the world around her but knows that she has to vote for Laloo.
When asked what she would like Laloo to do for her if he is voted to power, she says she would like him to hear her sing. Pooja Kumari, who was practising for muzra, says, "Ek baar jo yahan badnaam ho gayee wo nikal kar kahan jaayegi? Ab hame koi byaah kar to nahi le jaayega."
She has two kids to fend for. Most say they intermarry in the biradri itself. "Our ''husbands'' usually come once a month and sometimes they marry us. But they don''t want to attach their names with that of our kids," says Anita, who is the sole bread earner of a large family.
All of them are very scared of Rani, their "madamjee" who has told them to vote for lantern (RJD election symbol) and they sure won''t offend her as she is their "saviour". But fear can be read in their eyes as they obey whatever she says.