Holidays likely to hit voting in Telangana

Hyderabad: With two days of holidays one for the polls and the second for May 1, Labour Day, many professionals are eyeing quick getaways rather than casting their votes.

The poll turnout, thus, may be affected as 80 per cent of APSRTC buses to local destinations are booked while many services are even running into wait lists. While in the last polls the voter turnout had touched roughly 53 per cent, this year, with two consecutive off days, the turnout might not be very significant as well.

Along with the government sector, 90 per cent of the largest private sector IT companies will remain closed for both the days.

IT professionals not keen to vote

As a result of two days of holidays, buses and train bookings to nearby holiday destinations like Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, Warangal, Vijayawada and Tirupati have risen. Private bus operators too are completely booked for various nearby destinations.

“The idea behind mandating a holiday for the IT sector is to ensure that everyone votes, but there is no way of ensuring that. As a result, companies are keeping their offices closed,” said a senior official from an IT company. However, professionals, especially many government employees, had booked well in advance.

“This holiday was planned a week back, as it is one of those rare days when the entire family gets off as even colleges are closed. I am heading to Visakhapatnam and then to Araku with my family,” said a junior employee from APTransco.

Also, many young professionals who do not take voting very seriously have made group outing plans to nearby locations. Mr Pratik, a member of one such group, says, “I do not have a voter card here but since our company has given a holiday, the best way was to plan a short trip. Two more non-voters like me planned a trip to Horsley Hills a day back and finally we were joined by three other voters who are ditching voting for the trip.”

“On April 30 morning and the entire evening, we have full bookings. Lots of people are leaving Hyderabad for the districts,” said a private bus operator.
APSRTC, which generally has a 50 to 55 per cent occupancy, is also seeing 80 per cent occupancy with tickets being sold out in the morning hours to destinations like Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada.