At the MVA rally in Kolhapur on Sunday, Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra arrived at least two hours late. The crowd was getting restless. The MVA was running out of leaders who would address the crowd. Even Congress MLA Vishwajeet Kadam looked tired. He addressed the gathering for quite a long time. And then suddenly stopped. “How long should I address ?..Even I am running out of the issues.” Vote, Eat, Elect Pune voters will receive a 20 per cent discount on their dining bills at over 50 participating restaurants if they cast their votes in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. The offer follows the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) Pune chapter’s announcement of a special “Democracy Discount” initiative aimed at encouraging voter participation. The ‘Democracy Discount’ is designed to boost voter turnout, particularly among young urban voters. The offer will be valid for two consecutive days, November 20 and 21, at around 60 selected restaurants across Pune. The NRAI stated that the initiative comes at a crucial time when Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has voiced concerns about urban voter apathy and emphasised the need for maximum voter turnout in the upcoming elections. Sahil Jahagirdar, NRAI Pune’s in-charge, expressed hope that the initiative would inspire voters to actively participate in the democratic process. “Celebrating the world’s largest democratic festival, I extend heartfelt thanks to all the restaurants supporting this cause with their unique offer,” he said. Participating restaurants will provide the discount on the total bill to dine-in customers who present their voter IDs, proof of Pune residency, and inked fingers as evidence of voting. I just called to say.elect me Who isn’t harassed by unsolicited calls asking you to take their credit card, take out a loan or, as is more common now, click on a link because your parcel has been seized by Customs or your phone will be blocked in an hour hoping to ensnare you in a cyber scam? Of late adding to the unsolicited rings have been calls where a recorded, but familiar voice, asks you in the politest of tone to make sure you cast your vote in their favour. In some cases the message is even preceded by your name, making it even more personal. While not a scam of course, it does make you wonder at the number of calls you receive per day which are genuinely from people you know and the ones who just need your time or money or vote.
