Thiruvananthapuram: Only a fraction ofNon-Resident Keralites have registered as voters but they seem to be taking a keen interest in the electoral battle at home,closely following the campaign on Internet and news channels.
It is hard to hazard a guess at the actual NRI turnout for voting on April 10, those living abroad are asactive in chat debates as the desi voters on social networkingsites and other communication channnels.
Many of them keep abreast of the latest developments in the country.
Lavanya Shyamkumar, a home-maker holding permanentresident status in Macungie, Pennsylvania, United States, has been keenly following the elections over the Internet andtelevision in the midst of her domestic chores.
Lavanya said she, and also many others, follow Indianpolitics because they want India to be in safe hands.
"As an overseas Indian what I look forward to is a seachange in Indian politics. Mounting corruption has given a negative image about the country," Lavanya said over the phone.
Asked whom she would like to vote for if she gets a chance tobe in Kerala on voting day, she said, "The Congress has lost its credibility due to dynastic politics and charges ofcorruption. The BJP is not much different from the Congressand the infighting in it would make the voter think twice whether to support it or not."
She feels that the Aam Aadmi Party has lost much of its appeal after its leaders took the Congress' support and its present functioning is more disappointing."My vote would be for a person or party which will wage acrusade against corruption as I feel elimination of corruption is the panacea to several problems faced by the country," Lavanya said.
She said most NRIs would be able to participate in theelections only if the government made arrangements for them to vote in the country where they reside.