“This election feels disturbing”: Why are Pune’s top artists upset at the polling booths?

He added that he votes to keep democracy intact. “My strong desire is that democracy should prevail and not be replaced by authoritarianism. I want a free social space for debates, discussions, and dialogue,” he said.

Actor Parna Pethe and Kathak dance maestro Guru Nandkishore Kapote were among those who cast their votes. Eminent playwright Satish Alekar voted at Kamyani School Sabhagruha near Patrakarnagar. “Things are very difficult now, seeing the scenario about people’s ideology concern. Apart from having uninterrupted supply water and uninterrupted power supply and clean roads, there is hardly any kind of a issue people were discussing so it’s very sad for me,” he says.

From the artist’s point of view, he feels that the PMC should re-erect the statue of Ram Ganesh Gadkari which was destroyed in 2017.

Singer Manjushree Oak voted early at the Dhondumama Sathe Homoeopathic Medical College in Erandwane. She said the booth was empty at that hour and hoped that more voters would turn up to fulfill their duty to vote. “We talk about rights. These elections are very important and more people should come out to cast their ballot,” she said.

When veteran artist Vaishali Oak went to vote, she found that the process was very smooth but she noticed that most of the crowd looked serious. Clearly, the concerns about the city’s civic conditions weighed on every mind. It was on her mind as well, from the deteriorating cleanliness in public places to the lack of civic sense in people. “We choose our elected representatives in the hope that they can make a difference,” she said.