A Feminist Election Newsroom

Elections are not just about party politics. They are about asserting our voices,  as women and gender diverse persons, as people who exist at many intersections of class, caste, gender, religion, region, disability and many more. As equal citizens in a democracy. 

Elections are also about making choices on issues that matter to us –issues like health, education, economy, jobs, inflation, our rights and access to resources. And telling those in power very categorically to make them work for us.

Elections are not about politicians. They are about people. 

And as feminist journalists, elections are central to our idea of creating a just and equal society. We do that by seeking accountability from our political representatives. We also do this by making our issues central to political decision making. 

But we are also accountable to you. At the Feminist Election Newsroom, our correspondents report from the ground with rigour and care, contextualise it with data and evidence and fit the pieces of the jigsaw to build the big picture for you. 

So when we report on infant deaths in a public hospital in Maharashtra, we also tell you that this is not an isolated incident. We show you how and why the healthcare system is broken. Why must Anjali Waghmare, a Dalit landless woman, and her newborn die in the richest state in India for lack of a warmer?  Why must her family borrow money for her delivery that leaves them with a mountain sized debt that they have to carry for the rest of their life ? How is this out of pocket expenditure on health pushing millions in India like Anjali into debt? And most importantly, we ask the government of Maharashtra critical questions because we are citizens and taxpayers.You can expect diverse perspectives about issues that are  political, social and  economic. Electoral impulses make one dominate over the other, but we encourage you to hold space for each one. 

As we ask for progress and social equity for all, we need to look at the large sections of society whose voices are ignored by mainstream media. And by the people in power. 

Come each election season, our Feminist Election Newsroom will be  dedicated to uncovering all aspects of the  truth and help make sense of it all, for you to make informed choices.

And beyond elections, we will keep informing you and also ask these questions on your behalf to those in power. Because we believe election coverage has to be year round, preceding polls and outlasting oath-taking ceremonies. We will report on officials and policies, audit their promises, and hold institutions to account. 

2024 was a litmus test for democracies globally. Democracy requires care and consistency, and BehanBox’s FEN is ready to put in the work to preserve our collective freedoms.  

If you have any suggestions on what you would like to see in our electoral reporting, please write to us. Keep following this space to get updates, information and participate in a world of Behans seeking accountability. 

Because our vote matters.