First-time Voters, Brides Rush To Booths | Mangaluru News - Times of India

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Mangaluru/Udupi: The Lok Sabha polls in Dakshina Kannada have attracted significant interest from first-time

voters

. Going by latest available data on March 15, the Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency had nearly 36,000 young electors.

Excited about inking their finger for the first time, Shreyashree R, a BSW student and NSS volunteer, said: "It is my fundamental right to vote and elect the best leader, who can serve and make our nation better.

Every vote and every voice matters. Hence, everyone should vote for the nation," she said.

Sannidhi, a student from Kulkunda in Subrahmanya, said: "Being a

first-time

voter, I am very happy to become part of the nation's development. I voted for the security of the nation. Until recent years, I was only hearing about voting rights, but this year, I am proud to be a voter myself," he said.

Amritha VK, a media and communications student, said: "As a first-time voter, I'm happy to be a responsible citizen. I believe in voting for a cause rather than the mere delivery of fake promises. Every vote holds some importance and can contribute towards making a change," she said.

Off to polling booths in bridal attire

Political parties were worried about the potential impact of numerous weddings and housewarming ceremonies scheduled for April 26, coinciding with the first phase of polling in Karnataka. However, many

brides

preferred to vote first and then participate in their wedding rituals and celebrations.

Several brides in the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi-Chikmagaluru Lok Sabha constituencies took a detour to the polling booths, adorned in vibrant bridal attire. They walked proudly with their family members to vote as other voters in the queue watched them curiously.

Vinutha from Veerakamba village in Bantwal chose to make the polling booth her first stop. She cast her vote before proceeding to celebrate her wedding. A similar routine was followed by Rashmitha from Mangaluru, who also prioritised inking her finger before tying the knot.

Sowmya from Bandaru, after casting her vote, proceeded to complete the rituals of her wedding with Harish from Vittal, while Navyashree and Nandashree, twins from Ballakka, voted before entering wedlock. Bride Ashwini cast her vote in Kundapur, before heading to her wedding reception, quite like Spoorthy Acharya, who was seen at a polling station in Yadabettu. Before proceeding to his wedding in Padubidri, Ranjan Shetty voted in Ajekar, of Karkala Taluk. Muduri and Nagraj Kuchala from 76 Haladi in Udupi district also exercised their franchise after their marriage.