NRIs flew home from far and wide to join fest of democracy

HUBBALLI: Some enthusiastic expatriates, including a few from Nigeria, the US and UK, flew back home to exercise their franchise in North Karnataka region on Tuesday.

Vishwas Kadadi, an IT manager in Lagos, Nigeria, and wife Sheela landed in Hubballi on March 29. He said: “I’ve been working in Nigeria for the past 15 years. We come home on vacation every year in May or June. This time, we preponed it just so we could cast our votes. In the past 15 years, I couldn’t

vote

and but happy to do it this year.”

Sadyojatha Shastry and wife Shobha, who live in Ibadan, Nigeria, flew with the Kadadi couple. Shastry has been a tech engineer there for the past six years.

Niharikar Sashittal, who studied in

Dharwad

and stayed in Saraswatpur before moving to the US for work, came to Dharwad with wife Preksha and mother Mangala. He and his mother voted but Preksha couldn’t vote since her name is registered as a

voter

in Mumbai. “It’s our duty to vote. A stable government is needed and people have the responsibility of electing such a government. I work in the US but heart is in Dharwad,” he said.

Bharat Ameenappa Patil (Nadahalli), a die-hard fan of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, came from Cardiff, United Kingdom. Bharat, a third-year student of Bachelor of Business Administration, landed in Muddebihal town to vote on Tuesday. He said: “During the 2018 assembly elections, I planned to come to India to vote but unfortunately I couldn’t as my name was not in the electoral rolls. This time, my father informed me that it had been included. I voted with my parents and grandparents at Nadahalli village.”

“I’m keen on voting since it’s a chance to choose our lawmakers and also ensure what the path the nation takes,” added Bharat, son of Muddebihal BJP MLA A S Patil (Nadahalli).

Anupama Masali, who taught Economics for a month at the Royal University of Bhutan, returned to India on April 15 to vote. Her father DN Masali, a retired postmaster, said: “Voting is our duty and we asked her to come home for it.”

Among others who came from abroad was Sudheer Narayanrao Harwalkar, who works in the US and came to Sedam town to exercise his franchise.

Former minister and Bilagi MLA Muragesh Nirani’s son Vishal, who is studying in Australia, came to Hanchanal village of Bilagi taluk on Tuesday to cast his vote. “This is the first time I have voted and I am happy that I had a role in strengthening democracy in our country,” he said.