You can’t force someone to vote; it is something that we must want to do

Whenever there is a civic issue that needs attention,

Baadal Nanjundaswamy

’s many innovative artworks have forced the hands of the authority to fix it. But

Baadal

says that widespread change can only be achieved if we elect the right person to office...
When the air was electric with poll activity
It was around 10 years ago that I voted for the first time — in my hometown, Mysuru. I remember the joy I felt of being a significant member of society. I remember there being party workers outside the poll booths, who would ask us to

vote

for their candidates. We used to say yes, and then vote for whoever we wanted. As a boy, my friends and I used to run around with the candidates who were campaigning; it didn’t matter which party they were from. The air was electric with poll activity and we just wanted to be a part of it.
Want good roads? Vote!
We need good roads and other civic amenities; we also need someone to reinstate our rights. But as citizens, it is our duty to follow politics and exercise our franchise. You need to think about why you need to vote, because someone who really is out there to serve us may lose because we don’t think it’s important to vote. Your one vote gives them a chance to do good work.
Vote, because you’re Indian
Due to the cosmopolitan nature of the city, there are very few localities in Bengaluru. People from other states may not know the local leaders and parties. They come here to work, and in the process, may keep shifting their residence. This is why voter turnout is less here. But wherever we are from, we are Indians first, so we must familiarise ourselves with the local corporator and MLA. Voting is like traffic rules — we all know about them, but we still break them. The need to vote should come from within; you can’t force someone to do it.