In sickness and in health, and voting too, for half a century

BENGALURU: Octogenarians Koushik Thakur and wife Asha were the cynosure of all eyes at the Mount Carmel College polling station in Vasanthnagar of Bangalore Central constituency. With good reason: they’ve been voting together for the past 52 years.
Retired government official Koushik said he had promised his wife he’d support her in everything: “Voting is just one of them.” The couple said the political scene in the city has changed dramatically over the decades.“Earlier, politicians would visit us and listen to our demands. Now, nobody comes to us,” said these residents of Embassy Link apartments.
Asha said he encourages her to vote and she believes voting will help form a good government. “Poor turnout will result in a representative who is just interested in making money,” she added.
Sr citizens brave the odds
Senior citizens turned out in good numbers to exercise their franchise. Karnataka’s famous centenarians, Gandhian HS Doreswamy, environmentalist Saalumarada Thimmakka and lexicographer G Venkatasubbaiah promptly turned up at their booths. Doreswamy, 102, accompanied by wife Lalithamma, 87, voted in Jayanagar under Bangalore South constituency. “I’ve voted in all elections since Independence. Only in one did I choose NOTA,” he said.
Venkatasubbaiah, 106, voted in Bangalore International Academy, near Jayanagar around 11am. Thimmakka, 107, voted at Hulikal village of Magadi taluk in Bangalore Rural constituency and happily posed for lensmen.
Muniswamy M, 90, a resident of Jayanagar, said he hasn’t missed a single election since 1951 when the first Lok Sabha polls were held. On Thursday, he ensured he cast his vote within a few hours of opening time.
Mary Fernandez, 83, a resident of Old Madras Road, was brought by her son and grandson to the booth in Kendriya Vidyalaya School, CV Raman Nagar. She hasn’t missed a single election in Bengaluru since the late 1950s. Mehrunissa, 80, who has been voting for the past 30 years, vaoted at the Mount Carmel College booth.
Why not online voting for bedridden senior citizens?
Padmavathamma, 93, from Jayanagar couldn’t vote this time, as she’s bedridden. It’s the first time she couldn’t vote. Her daughter Lakshmi Narasu, 72, said: “It would have been convenient if there was an online voting system.”
Manjappa M, 91, a retired education department officer, said the process has improved a lot. “Voting is my right and I’ve never failed to exercise it,” he said after voting at a Sakhi booth in Jayanagar.