India's IT Hub Challenging Politics as Usual

For years, Bangalore—India’s answer to Silicon Valley—has endured traffic jams, power blackouts and a chaotic airport that businesses blame on politicians who’ve ignored the city’s IT elites to court rural voters. Now, Reuters reports, an updated constituency map giving urban voters more clout has hope high for change after state elections end Thursday.

It’s the first new map since 1971, and reflects extensive urban growth. "Traditionally in India, the perception of being a pro-urban politician was a kiss of death," said the managing director of an Indian consulting firm. "But parties are responding to a new urban reality, and a middle class is finding their voice." (More Bangalore stories.)