Bangalore gears up for elections as security heightens

The excitement grows in Bangalore ahead of the elections on 23rd April. As thousands prepare to vote, some inspired to do so for the first time, police tighten security in the region. A national holiday has been declared to allow voters to exercise their right to democracy.

Karnataka state police say that they are ready to face any threat, including Naxal threat, and have geared up to full security.

According to reports from Bangalore, it is the young tech community, such as those working for companies like Inatech, that is driving political change. This new generation of young, relatively affluent workers within IT outsourcing for various global companies will lend weight to the electoral process.

Bangalore’s young workers have been inspired to action following a sudden surge in moral policing in pubs and clubs, as well as political events such as the Mumbai attacks in December.

Before now, voting amongst working and middle class Indians was not a high priority. Despite the fact that 720 million Indians are entitled to vote, apathy was widespread due to the view of all politicians as corrupt.

Now, the new, digital Indian population is engaged in pragmatic political action, using social networking to galvanise others into using their ballots for change.