Parties transport migrants to cast their vote

Hyderabad, April 15: With the first phase of polls commencing on Thursday, migrant voters are in great demand. Candidates of all political parties are taking special care to ensure these electors exercise their franchise in their native places by arranging transport facilities.

Several candidates contesting from Warangal, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Adilabad, Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda and Medak have hired cabs to transport voters to native places; their special focus is on university campuses, colleges and coaching centres where thousands of students are busy preparing for semester exams and other competitive exams.

As many constituencies may witness close contests, candidates are taking no chances. Some have arranged transport for families of employees and workers too. Migrant voters are also assured a ride back to their current residences after they vote. There are thousands of young voters from many districts who have joined coaching centres to prepare for DSC, APPSC Group-1 and Group-2 recruitment exams.

“This time the fight is tough. We believe that whoever wins, it will be only with a slim majority. In such situations the candidates do not want to take chances. Several young voters in our constituency have shifted to Hyderabad to pursue higher education courses. Many are not keen on going to their native places just to vote as they are busy with their exams. Even though it’s a holiday, they may prefer to stay back and study. The candidates are requesting us to travel to native places to vote saying they will provide us with transport,” said Mr K. Akash Kumar, who is a B.Tech student in Osmania Engineering college. He is a voter registered in Warangal.

Mr J. Nagaraju, a DSC aspirant from Nalgonda, said he and his group of friends which comprises 30 students, decided to go back to their native places and vote after candidates of all parties assured them free transport.

Candidates from Mahbubnagar and Nalgonda districts are focusing on “labour force” which has migrated to the city mostly on construction sites. “Thousands of people have shifted to the city for construction works. Parties are offering labourers two and fro bus fares to get their votes,” said Mr T. Jagadish, a group leader of construction workers.