Hyderabad, May 11: Thousands of people from Hyderabad will return to neighboring Andhra Pradesh on Saturday to cast their votes in the Assembly and Lok Sabha Elections scheduled for May 13. Buses and trains were packed with families eager to return home to take part in the election process. Cars, buses and other transport vehicles queued up at the toll plaza on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway as many families returned to their homes in cars or other vehicles.
Voters from towns and villages in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana started voting on Friday evening for a week-long campaign. About 1.2 million Andhra voters live in Hyderabad. They may go on their polling trips on Saturdays and Sundays. During the festival of Sankranti many people travel from Hyderabad to Andhra Pradesh. Elections are scheduled for May 13 for 175 Assembly seats and 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh and 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana.
As Saturday and Sunday are election days, the technicians working in some companies in Hyderabad started leaving early to spend time with their relatives and friends before the election. The railway and bus stations in Hyderabad, Secunderabad and other cities are full of passengers going to their destinations. Mahatma Gandhi Bus Terminal (MGBS) and Jubilee Bus Terminal saw a large number of passengers. Buses also ply to Andhra Pradesh from LB Nagar, Aramghar, Kukatpally and other places. Although the authorities operated more private buses and trains, they were found to be doing little to tackle the massive traffic problem. Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) and Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) buses were packed with passengers.
Passengers traveling to places like Vijayawada, Guntur, Coonoor, Visakhapatnam and other places in Andhra Pradesh have booked tickets for 400 APSRTC buses. Private bus operators have seized this opportunity by doubling or tripling bus fares on popular routes. TSRTC operates about 2,000 more buses in terms of traffic volume. Mahalakshmi, a free travel center in Telangana for women traveling in TSRTC buses, also joined the frenzy as many families left early for other parts of the state to use their power. The South Central Railway operates special trains from Secunderabad and Kacheguda stations to reduce congestion. His team also arranged additional vehicles for regular trains.
Major political parties of Andhra Pradesh and their candidates are trying their best to convince voters who are registered voters in their states but are staying in Hyderabad to cast their votes. They cover travel expenses and remittances. Several political parties have raised the issue of the number of people registered as voters in Telugu states. The Electoral Commission has taken steps to eliminate dual voters under strict scrutiny. Officials said holding elections in both states on the same day would address the concerns of some political parties about dual voters.
