Voter turnout: How Bengaluru's 'billionaires' street defied stereotypes?

BENGALURU: In a surprising turn of events, the bustling tech hub of Bengaluru, famously dubbed as the 'Billionaire Street', witnessed a significant surge in voter participation during the recent elections, defying conventional wisdom that the city's affluent tech crowd tends to prioritize vacations over visits to the polling station.

Located in the coveted Koramangala 3rd Block area, known for housing the elite founders of successful startups and corporate honchos, four polling booths saw over 50% of residents exercising their democratic right. Nestled within the premises of Reddy Janasangha School, these four booths, (numbered 116 to 119), had a total of 4,085 registered voters, including 2,032 males and 2,053 females.

Unlike the typical morning rush witnessed at most polling stations across the city, the turnout here steadily gained momentum as the afternoon sun reached its peak. "Going by the past experience, we initially thought not many would turn up for voting this time too. But we were in for a surprise by the end of the day. Not only did prominent people walk into the polling stations early in the morning but also rushed in to cast their votes in the evening too," a polling agent told TOI.

Among the early voters was Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, renowned cardiac surgeon and founder of Narayana Health, accompanied by his family, who arrived promptly at 7:30 am. Not far behind, Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani and his wife Rohini Nilekani made a discreet entrance around 12:15 pm, dressed in casual attire and sporting caps to maintain a low profile. Despite their stature, they preferred to swiftly fulfill their civic duty and avoid media attention.

Throughout the day, the queues remained manageable, with citizens appreciating the serene and orderly atmosphere of the polling booths. Bharath Tiwari, a local voter, commended the peaceful environment, highlighting the smooth conduct of the voting process and the tranquil surroundings of the location.

Strategically timing her visit to avoid the anticipated rush, Anamika Goyal, another voter from Koramangala 3rd Block, arrived with her family at 1:00 pm, ensuring a hassle-free voting experience amidst the noon lull.

As the clock struck 6 pm, signaling the close of polling, the four booths proudly boasted a commendable 54% turnout. "We expect the actual turnout to go up further, it is good to see the affluent come and vote," the agent added.