30 Apr. Karnataka’s second phase of elections to the the Parliament are over. Mangalore -which was little known until recently- was the cynosure of all eye! Though for the wrong reasons.Thanks to the BJP and its mischievous outfits.

Mangalore, probably, witnessed the highest voter turn out in the country in these elections, so far! Roughly 72%. Though not the best figures for a responsible democracy, quite flattering figures! Thanks once again to the misrule of BJP, and the hooliganism of some of the anti social outfits associated with the sangh parivar – minorities, dalits, tribals, women, and those interested in secularism, liberty, human rights, and civil society came out in big numbers to vote.

Now you know why the local (former) MP Mr Sadananda Gowda, ran away from Mangalore to Udupi to contest this election!

Today’s voting saw serpentine queues in front of voting booths – already by 6.30 am, people were queued up in front the booths – to vote after 7am! That is the show of conviction and zeal for democracy!

Elsewhere, specially in Mumbai, the extremely low voter turn was very disappointing! Do they need a jolt, too?