Karnataka - Bangalore   

Age has not diminished her enthusiasm to vote

BANGALORE: Gangamma, 98, a landholder near Jigani in Anekal Assembly constituency, has not missed voting in the elections.

“My father told me that my name will go to Delhi and so I should vote,” she told The Hindu on being asked when did she first cast her vote.

“Even now my enthusiasm has not dipped,” said Gangamma, who moves with the help of a walker.

Her grandson, who brought her to the polling station at Jigani’s Nityananda Swamy Educational Institutions, said it was at her insistence that he did that.

Similar was the case with Kodi Chinnappa (98), who was sitting in an autorickshaw along with wife Chinnamma, to go home after casting his vote at the same polling station. Mr. Chinnappa, an agriculturist, has never missed exercising his franchise.

The average voter turnout in Bangalore Urban district that comprises seven constituencies was around 55 per cent, with Anekal recording nearly 60 per cent, according to initial estimates by the authorities.

At Sunavara, a village near Mutyalamadu in Anekal Assembly constituency, bordering Tamil Nadu, more than 150 men and women stood in queues for long hours.

The booth had 1,322 votes and only one EVM. The official concerned explained that as many of the voters were not familiar with the EVM and the long time taken in completing the process had delayed the casting of votes.

Long queues were seen at some booths at Jigani town.

Confusion prevailed among voters at three polling booths in Government Higher Primary School, Ullalu, in Yeshvanthpur Assembly constituency.

The officials on duty did not display “from and to” serial numbers attached to respective booths forcing the people to run from one booth to another, eventually losing their seniority in the queue.

At the Government Higher Primary School, Nagasandra, in Dasarahalli Assembly constituency, many voters went back as they were not assigned to the particular polling station.

In Yelahanka Satellite Town under Yelahanka, Nandini (22), said her parents’ names were missing from the list though she and her brother found place in it.

As she had neither EPIC nor any individual identity card, she was told outside the booth that she could not exercise her franchise.

However, with the intervention of journalists, who had gathered there, she could cast her vote as her name was there in the family’s ration card that contained Nandini’s name.

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