The first phase of elections in Karnataka is today and Bangalore is one area that goes to poll. Looking (and driving) around it is impossible to tell today apart from any other given Saturday (of course the booze joints, euphemistically called “Wine Shops” in Bangalore are shut). Some reports say the polling is 12%, which possibly explains why the queue outside the ATM is longer than that outside a polling station. Apathy towards a chance to decide governance is a dangerous symptom in a democracy. When I used to stay at Harare a lot of my friends took pains to tell me that this is exactly what used to happen during election time in Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe methodically ensured he “got” the votes year after year and stayed on power to rule the country. Twenty eight years into its independance, Zimbawe stands perilously close to economic obliteration. Chilling though but let me drop this analogy here.