Karnataka polls: In a first, patients will be taken to booths in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: In a first-of-its kind move in Bengaluru, elaborate arrangements have been made to ferry patients undergoing treatment at various hospitals to their respective polling booths, under the watchful eyes of doctors.
Sources in the office of Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Karnataka told TOI, Manipal Hospitals has requested the CEO to facilitate voting by patients who are either being treated at their hospitals or are still under observation at home after discharge. The request has been forwarded to the district election officer of BBMP for consideration.
BBMP sources confirmed a list of about 11 patients at six hospitals has been shared with them. Patients selected for exercising their voting rights include those undergoing chemotherapy, dialysis, trauma patients and those who underwent surgeries recently.
Manoj Kumar Meena, CEO, Karnataka said: “Our objective is to include every voter in the electoral process, though we cannot force anyone, especially those in hospitals, to vote.” “However, if voters can cast their vote and their medical condition is taken care of, we will facilitate their voting at the polling booths,” the CEO added.
Karthik Rajagopal, COO, of Manipal Hospitals, said: “We are thinking beyond healthcare and so we felt that illness should not come in the way of patients exercising their constitutional right.”