Seemandhra voters go home leaving parties in jitters

HYDERABAD: Thousands of Andhraites who have votes in Greater Hyderabad region could miss the Lok Sabha election, with many going to their hometowns for summer vacation and are planning to leave by the weekend, some candidates and residents said.
Candidates of major political parties, including TRS, BJP and the Congress in Malkajgiri, Secunderabad and Chevella Lok Sabha seats fear a poor turn-out may affect the poll percentage on April 11.“We may face a poor turn-out in the Lok Sabha election, if Seemandhra voters skip the polls on April 11. This is a major problem, which all political parties are concerned about. I too found that in some pockets in my constituency, Seemandhra voters have already locked their houses,” N Ramchandra Rao, BJP candidate from Malkajgiri told TOI.
“Every year we go to Vizag to spend summer vacation,” said Bhushan Raju, resident of Vengalrao Nagar in Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency.
Representatives from united federation of residential welfare association said they have evaluated the situation and are equally concerned. “We anticipate, at least a few thousand Seemandhra voters from pockets of Malkajgiri and Kukatpally will leave the city before polls,” said BT Srinivasan, secretary of the association.
Polticians are worried on two counts. While some are leaving for vacations, others have their names enrolled in Seemandhra voter’s list and will miss the polls.