Polls in the City of Destiny Wednesday were a peaceful affair by and large with voters turning up in huge numbers in the early hours itself to be done with the business before the day turned too hot. A sense of quiet pride was revealed by the women in crisp cotton sarees and men in an assortment of attires ranging from casual fitness tracksuits to somewhat regal safari suits who poured in to vote.
The serpentine queues notwithstanding, the public appeared to have been spoilt for choice, or the lack of, this general elections. While the former category consisted of excited first time voters and people chanting and flaunting the ‘change’ mantra, the latter comprised of more seasoned citizens, who appeared sage in stark contrast to the merry first-timers.
Clearly not smitten with the latest selfie craze that unfolded on the premises of the polling booth itself was N Krishna Prasad, a retired employee from APSRTC. “I can’t imagine how a picture of yourself with the ink helps.
It’s what you do behind the screen, the choice you make that matters,” he said gravely.
But the number of clucking tongues did not stop newbies from showing off the finger to all and sundry, some of who thought it imperative that the moment be captured at the polling station alone.
There were also others who broke off into gleeful conversations as they walked out of the booths, heading for the roadside eateries that opened up early on the occasion.
One such family churning out hot idlis and dosas to hungry voters was that of Mani’s, which has been in the business for over ten years now.
“We usually get a lot of customers by this time. But the elections brought in a lot more people today. I hope we have elections more times,” she grins.