Rural voters show the way to urban electorate

Voters turn out in droves

Long queues were a common sight in front of polling booths for the Gram Panchayat polls in Hoskote taluk of Bangalore rural district. Majority of the voters in Yangutte, a small sleepy village in the taluk, had exercised their franchise by noon. There was palpable enthusiasm among the voters who braved the scorching heat to exercise their franchise.

Coffee, tea and at certain places even lunch was served to the voters by candidates. At Kammasandra village coming under Lankundahalli Gram Panchayat limits,  buttermilk and bettle leaves were offered to the voters along with pamphlets by the supporters of candidates.  Two groups almost came to blows at Solibele polling station.

It is alleged that an attempt by a person to cast a proxy vote triggered the clash. Kalpana, a first time voter, cast her ballot fully realising the importance of panchayat institutions. She hoped the candidate she voted for would take up  development works  as he had promised during  campaign.  Kashinath, a defence personnel, came to vote at Doddadunasandra village in Devanagundi in full uniform. Former chief minister H D Kumarswamy voted at Kyatanayaka nahalli in Bidadi hobli.