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Home calling for Seemandhra voters
Home calling for Seemandhra voters. The citizens of Seemandhra are indeed celebrating the spirit of democracy. Since Hyderabad has a huge contingent of Andhra population, many voters are looking forward to going back to their villages to cast their vote on May 7.
Trains and buses engaged in large numbers for Seemandhra voters in the city to go back home and vote
The citizens of Seemandhra are indeed celebrating the spirit of democracy. Since Hyderabad has a huge contingent of Andhra population, many voters are looking forward to going back to their villages to cast their vote on May 7. With summer vacations declared for kids, these voters are not happy to exercise their franchise. The waiting lists have increased enormously in all the trains plying from the city. Some 200 additional bus services would be arranged in order to cater to the needs of travellers. However, this journey to celebrate democracy is proving to be a burden on the voter’s pockets. Both government and private buses are exploiting the situation by doubling their ticket prices. A ride to places like Kakinada and Visakhapatnam, which usually ranges from Rs 950-1,000, has now been raised to Rs 1,500- Rs 2,000.
Lakhs of passengers from the city are travelling to cities like Vijayawada, Guntur, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Machlipatnam, Chittoor, Nellore, Kadapa on the 5th and 6th of this month. With trains already full, the passengers are compelled to choose the expensive option. About 80 special buses organised by the APSRTC to places like Ongole, Vijayawada, Guntur and Nellore, have already been booked completely. Majority of the migrant voters are youngsters. The increased interest among the youth in the election process is prompting them to go back to their constituencies and cast their vote. The local leaders are also targeting them to harness their votes. These leaders are ready to provide the voters, especially the migrated bonded labour from Seemandhra villages, with transportation allowances, food etc, persuading them to come and vote.
Phani Manthena, a software engineer, who hails from Visakhapatnam, said, “I have in fact received phone calls from local leaders requesting me to make use of the right.” Families are also requesting their kin to come and vote in their hometowns.
It would be interesting to watch how many of these migrant workers would be able to travel and exercise their votes.
