HYDERABAD: All those who need to work for a living know the value of a Friday or Monday holiday. This means extended weekend, and that means a getaway from the humdrum of routine life. Unfortunately for pollsters and democracy, Telangana will go to vote on a Friday — December 7. What’s worse? The declaration of results will happen on December 11, Tuesday. That means, those willing to take leave for one day, Monday, will get a five-day break!
Will Hyderabadis, who have a tendency to pack their bags and getaway for the weekend, stay back to exercise their democratic right? This is a factor that is likely to worry the Election Commission, which is determined to boost the voting percentage in the city. Traditionally, polling has been low in urban areas of the State. “It is worrying to have the date so close to weekend,” admits Sandeep Maktala of Telangana Information Technology Association (TITA).
“Many migrant techies, who have obtained a voter ID because they need address proof, will end up heading home or for a vacation. Most of them are disconnected with the election process here.
They do not know the candidates and larger issues here. So convincing them to stay back and vote will be tough,” says Sandeep. The techies who usually have a 5-day work week will especially benefit from the vacation and may consider a quick backpacking trip.
It would be no different for other professionals as December 8 is a second Saturday. “It is going to really impact the numbers because people have this tendency to believe that their votes will not matter,” adds Raghavandra Sarma, Treasurer of Let’s Vote, an NGO working with Telangana CEO on voter engagement. Making it worse may be the State Holiday declared for counting day on 11th. “It’s an unusual move which will encourage even government employees to take a nice long leave,” added Professor Subbarangaiah of Let’s Vote.
But despite all this, the stakeholders are doing their bit to get the urban voter excited.
“We are planning on flash-mobs called ‘Ungli- dance’, and also planning a campaign called ‘Awaaz do Techies’ to make them more engaged in the process,” says Sandeep. Let’s Vote has also been reaching out to gated communities and colleges in order to feel the voters more belonged to the electoral process. So, what will you do? Will you use your power to chart the course of governance or ‘getaway’?