FM, Murthy and Nilekani among first to vote as Bengaluru goes to polls in soaring temperature

Prominent personalities including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy, Infosys chairman Nandan Nilekani and Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw were among the first to cast their votes, as Bengaluru’s companies and retailers did their part, offering prizes and discounts, to push the turnout numbers up.

The three LS constituencies of the city, Bengaluru North (54.42%), Bengaluru Central (52.81%) and Bengaluru South (53.15%) recorded a turnout that was lower than the state-average (69.23%) for the 14 constituencies that went to polls in Karnataka on Friday. Long weekend, soaring temperatures and voter apathy may have caused the lower turnout in Bengaluru.

Sitharaman accompanied her maternal uncle to the polling station in Jayanagar in South Bengaluru. Several voters took selfies with the FM after she stepped out of the booth. In the same locality, Murthy, who is recovering from a fever, and his wife, Rajya Sabha member Sudha Murty, also cast their ballots. “I got him discharged from the hospital and we both went to cast votes,” Murty told ET.


Infosys chairman and wife Rohini Nilekani cast their ballots in Koramangala. He was the Congress candidate from Bengaluru South LS seat 10 years ago.

Shaw posted a picture on X, showing her marked finger, and urging others to vote. “I have basically carried out that duty and responsibility." Infosys co-founder ‘Kris’ Gopalakrishnan and wife Sudha Gopalakrishnan voted near their house in Koramangala. “There was not much crowd around 10.30 am,” he said. That, in fact, had been the scene in several residential areas in Bengaluru.

Sporting casual wear, well-known cricketer and coach Rahul Dravid stood in a queue with the rest of the public at Malleshwaram – the videos of which went viral on social media. The Election Commission used the visuals to urge young voters to take a cue.

Aarain Capital founder TV Mohandas Pai posted his picture soon after the polling began, showing his marked finger with the message, “Folks I cast my vote. Very happy and proud! Please cast your vote now! Discharge your duty.” His son, Siddarth Pai, a founding partner at venture fund 3one4 Capital, said, "We always tell our employees to judge your candidates as strictly as you judge firms, you're investing in.”

Zerodha co-founder Nithin Kamath flew down from an overseas trip Thursday, just to make it to the polling day. He and his brother Nikhil Kamath both cast their votes near Bannerghatta Road.

GrowthStory’s founder K Ganesh cast his vote in Indiranagar along with his 89-year-old mother Seethalakshmi Krishnan. He said that the polling booth had wheelchair-friendly facilities with a cooperative staff. “It was an inspiration for others to go out and vote. I strongly believe if you don't take the effort to participate in the process, you lose the right to complain or criticise the elected government.”

Ankit Nagori, founder at Curefoods, was disappointed with the voter turnout as of afternoon. "Bangalore has had a history of low voter turnout and this time, the voting day being on a Friday, the turnout seems to be on the lower side again. This is unfortunate because voting is a fundamental right and a duty at the same time. Don’t know what can be done to push up these numbers in future."