Senior citizens come out in large numbers

CHENNAI: Despite knee problems, Rajalakshmi (77) turned up to cast her vote at the Don Bosco school in Kolathur as the polling booth opened on Wednesday.
Since she did not exercise her franchise in the last three elections, agents of political parties voted in her name in a bogus' exercise. "To exercise one's franchise is a democratic right. I don't want someone misusing it and that's why I came to vote," says Rajalakshmi.
Senior citizens in almost all the constituencies in the city voted in large numbers. Many of them asserted that they were coming out despite their advancing age and frail condition, only to prevent bogus voting.
Some of them even said it was because the Election Commission conducted a fair election, they had come to cast their votes. "The EC conducted a fair election. Voter bribing was prevented to a large extent. I couldn't even see any political wall posters in the city. So I still believe that democracy is alive in the country," says 70-year-old B Gowri from Villivakkam. V Abdul Salam (76) says he could vote because of the EC's strict rules that helped to keep "fraudulent elements" at bay. "Last time when I came to vote, I was a bit disappointed that someone had already cast my vote. Even though I complained to the polling officer, no action was taken. But this time things went on properly thanks to the EC," he says.
However, 65-year-old S Jayanthi from Saidapet says she cast her vote for an independent candidate since she was against the freebies offered by major political parties. "Freebies are dangerous to the society. If the situation goes on like this, then we will see a society where freebies dominate. So I want to cast my vote to the right person," says Jayanthi.