Other extreme: An LS aspirant who owns nothing, almost

Other extreme: An LS aspirant who owns nothing, almost
Preetu Nair, TNN


PANAJI: Amidst the crorepatis contesting the Lok Sabha polls is a slum dweller who has neither savings nor movable assets. In fact, Martha D’Souza, an independent in fray for the North Goa seat is so poor that her contact point is a coin box pay phone outside her only immovable asset—an old, two-storied home in the middle of the Indiranagar slums in Chimbel, about 3 km from Panaji.

But poverty has turned into a poll USP for the 55-year-old widow of a police constable.

“I am poor and therefore I understand the pains and needs of the poor. I don’t have a manifesto that woos people before the elections. My aim is to work towards the upliftment of the poor. That’s my election manifesto,” says Martha. Her only source of income, according to her affidavit before the Election Commission, is a monthly pension of Rs 2,000.

Well aware that her competitors are not as poorly placed, the SSC educated Martha, who unsuccessfully contested two Assembly elections from Santa Cruz constituency in the past, says “money doesn’t matter”.

“What have the lahkpati and crorepati politicians done for the poor? Absolutely nothing. I have won the hearts of the poor here and they have contributed Rs 20,000 for my campaign. I will use the money to display banners and announce my candidature on a mobile loudspeaker,” says the candidate whose symbol is a coconut.

Quizzed about why she’s in the race, she shoots back, “If you want change you need to come out and contest the elections. Even if you don’t have money or muscle power, you need to contest to bring a change in the existing system. If you have the will to change today for a better tomorrow, then God will show you the way.”

13 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition