Elderly walk the talk to polling booths

Early voters at the polling booth set up in the Holy Angel’s High School, Hampinagar (Vijayanagar assembly constituency), were in for a surprise: they found jasmine flowers and incense sticks all around the room.

The “temple-like” atmosphere of the booth was created by A Devegowda, the Janata Dal (Secular) candidate contesting from the ward, who performed a puja to the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) before the voting started at 7 am. Dressed in white shirt and dhoti, Devegowda, along with his wife, offered a 15-minute puja to the voting machine. They also prayed to lord Ganesha  for removing all obstacles in attaining a majority.

“I, too, believe in god. But performing puja to an EVM is being superstitious,” said Anuradha K, a bank employee who came to cast her vote in the booth. “The election commission should come up with strict measures to curb such practices,” her neighbour, Subbalakshmi R, said.

It was the senior citizens who stole the show early in the morning in Hampinagar. They came in groups straight from their morning walks to exercise their rights. “I wanted to cast my vote before the rush. I came here soon after I finished my walk in a nearby park,” said Veena K, a senior citizen. About 40 senior citizens were lined up in front of the booth along with Veena.

Youngsters, however, seemed aloof from the whole process. They hardly appeared in polling booths. “I don’t want to cast my vote for anybody. These candidates are here to make money and not to do service. They vanish from the wards once the results are announced,” said Sandeep MK, a resident of Maruthi Mandir. 

There were also some first-time voters, whose opinions differed from Sandeep’s. “I am excited. I came with my grandfather to cast my vote. Words can’t explain my feeling now. I am proud of playing my part as a responsible citizen,” said Deepa MR, a resident of Hampinagar.

A policeman, who had finished his duty on the Gali Anjaneya Swamy temple premises, was seen asking voters not to cast their rights. “These corporators are of no use. It is better if you don’t waste your time. Go home and enjoy your Sunday evening. People are just vote banks for them,” he shouted, neglecting the efforts of some responsible minds who tried to stop him. “As a cop you should not say this,” said 65-year-old Shantajja who sells tender coconuts in RPC Layout. “I will definitely take time to go to the polling booth and make sure that my vote is not wasted,” she said.

Workers of different political parties were seen fighting with each other to give voting slips. They also went around in the ward, requesting people to come to the booths and register their votes. “We saw many house empty and many gates locked when we visited the area,” said Dhananjay R, worker of a major political party in Deepanjalinaga.