Sunak's in-laws Narayana Murthy, Sudha Murty vote in India elections; urge people to use right

A NUMBER of prominent Indian citizens from the southern city of Bengaluru on Friday (26) cast their ballots as the country went into the second phase of its 2024 general elections. Among them were Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Indian IT giant Infosys; his wife and parliamentarian Sudha Murty; and former India cricket captain Rahul Dravid, who is currently the head coach of the national team.

Murthy, 77, told reporters after exercising his voting right at a polling booth in Bangalore South constituency said people need to exercise the voting right that comes once every five years responsibly. "No one should let go of this opportunity," the billionaire entrepreneur, who is the father-in-law of British prime minister Rishi Sunak, said.

Sudha Murty, an educator, philanthropist and author who took oath as a member of Rajya Sabha or Upper House of the Indian parliament last month, said her husband went for voting despite ill health and was in hospital.

Read: India gears up for second phase of elections 2024: Kerala & Karnataka in focus

"Narayana Murthy was unwell and he was in the hospital. We got him discharged, and after voting, we are taking him home," she said.

The 73-year-old said she had travel plans but ensured that she cast her ballot before that.

"Matadana Shreshta Daana (voting is nobel). Rather than sitting and talking, come out, vote, and express your opinion. More and more people should come out and vote," she said after casting her ballot at a polling booth in Jayanagar area of southern Bengaluru, which is known to be a bastion of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of prime minister Narendra Modi.

Read: Indian expats in UAE rush home to vote in phase 2

Sudha Murty also urged the youth to come out and vote.

Bengaluru is known for a low voter turnout and Murty said it was time to reverse the trend.

"Educated people usually come out in less numbers to vote. As informed voters, you have to exercise your right," she was quoted as saying by reports.

Dravid, 51, said everyone should take part in voting and take democracy forward.

He said arrangements were good for a smooth election and appealed to people to come out in large numbers. He hoped that the IT capital of India would see a record turnout this time.

"Youths should come out and vote, especially first time voters," Dravid said.

The second phase of the election was held in 88 constituencies across 13 states and Union Territories of the country, including Karnataka of which Bengaluru is the capital. Fourteen out of 28 seats in the state went to the polls on Friday.

Meanwhile, common voters in the city said dire water shortages, flooding, gridlocked roads and poor civic facilities have become burning issues in Bengaluru city, as they voted in the election that is otherwise focused on employment, inflation and Hindu nationalism.

Long queues were found outside polling booths in the city even as it was reeling under extreme summer conditions.

(With agency inputs)