This Bengaluru locality residents are set to back their voice with votes

By Nitindra Bandyopadhyay

A popular perception that makes politicians neglect the demand of the urban middle-class voters, especially in a city like Bengaluru, is low voter turnout from this category. This year, Whitefield Rising, under its Million voter rising campaign, is all set to change this notion by uniting as a collective voice and go out and vote in large numbers for which the residents are gearing up.

A member of Whitefield Rising said, “We have heard ministers talking about us in a manner, which reflects that they don’t bother. After the last assembly elections there were elected representatives who went to the extent of saying that we have nothing to fear from WR protestors as only 200 will turn out to vote.”

However, in its fifth year, Whitefield Rising volunteers have realised that to get any work done, one needs a good local candidate in place. Archana S, a volunteer, said, “We are not taken seriously as we fail to unite as a single voice and make the politicians feel that our numbers can also sway their victory margin and hence this year we are gearing up to prove our worth.”


This is not the only step that the WR volunteers are taking. “To increase dialogue in a participatory democracy, we are conducting interviews and discussion with all the candidates who will file their nomination from the Mahadevapura constituency. All the interviews will be recorded and posted online for our members to watch and decide who is fit to have our votes. This time, we want to know what they have in place for us. Our agenda is not to vote for a party, but to put our trust in a candidate who will help us in improving the conditions in our constituency,” she said.

To spread awareness on the importance of voting, even the kids in the area have been active teaching their elders about the importance of voting.
Recently, a group of 10-year-olds went from door to door to ask people to pledge that they will cast their votes during the upcoming elections in Mahadevpura and till now they have successfully collected around 388 signatures.

Rashmi Nair, a resident of Bellandur, said, “We have united apolitically to pass a strong message to the MLA candidates that votes will be given based on issues and not over promises of doles. There are basic issues that are ailing the residents of our area and we want solutions for it. We are tired of listening to big tall promises, as a collective we have united to know the agenda each candidate have for us and the one who will relate to our concern will get our support.”