HYDERABAD: Even as the polling date draws near, many voters from the city are reluctant to exercise their franchise. Their main grouse is that they have to travel long distances to go and cast their vote. For many, the very prospect of undertaking such an ‘arduous’ journey is leading to a disengagement from the electoral process itself.
Moreover, urban residents are planning vacations, given that the voting day falls on a Thursday. Many are applying for leave on Friday so that they can chill out during the four-day extended weekend.
Deccan Chronicle’s interaction with some individuals showed that a considerable number of them have intentionally made plans for getaways during the election period.
Arjit Kumar from Kalyannagar said, "I really want to vote but the journey to my village is quite long. Taking a day off from work is not worth the effort.”
Sujatha Maroju, originally from Chennai, said "As I am seven months pregnant, it will be too inconvenient for me to travel all the way just to cast my vote. Instead, I prefer to take my day off and rest, considering the challenges that come while travelling during pregnancy."
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a person said, “I have no idea about whom I have to vote. I lack knowledge about politics. Anyway, I don’t think my vote will have any significant impact on a candidate’s prospects.”
Chief electoral officer Vikas Raj emphasized the importance of counseling such people as a means to ensure a bigger voter turnout. He said that they were trying to reach out to private companies urging them to mark leaves of employees who have the ink mark on their finger when they return for work.
“We understand the challenges some voters face, especially with regard to transportation and work compulsions. We encourage employers to be considerate and enable their employees to fulfill their civic duty,” he said.
Meanwhile, there are many who understand the significance of participating in the electoral process despite the challenges.
"I believe it's important to vote, regardless of the inconveniences. It's our responsibility as citizens to contribute to the democratic process,” said Vinay Vangala from Chandanagar.
