Chennai: In three days, the second phase of Lok Sabha elections will happen and Tamilnadu is one among the States that will vote 18 April. Since it is sandwiched between government holidays, politicians and analysts have raised their concerns over voter turnout owing to the long break – Mahavir Jayanthi (17 April), holiday for polling (18 April) Good Friday (19 April), Saturday and Sunday.
News Today spoke to a few people to know their thinking.
“I left from Chennai to Vellore Saturday to attend a family wedding and will be returning only next Sunday,” said Sowndharya, a techie.
When asked about voting, she said, “Though I am going to my hometown, I doubt if I will cast my vote. We do not get such long holidays in the IT field, I plan to rest and go back to work next week.”
She added: “My single vote is not going to move mountains, for whoever wins, shall form the government.”
It is a double blessing for Preethi Sriram, a private bank employee and a Tambaram resident. “As I get seven solid days, I will be going to Thanjavur, cast my vote and spend time with family and friends there.”
For Arun Darwin, a native of Chennai but employed in Bengaluru, exercising his right is important. “I will be coming to Chennai a day before, vote for the polls and leave soon after doing it. It is good that my workplace granted us a holiday, but even if it was other way round, I do not mind taking leave. During the last elections too, I applied for leave and travelled.”
Sherwin Gladson, a photographer based in Chennai, has decided to fulfil his democratic duty as a citizen first. “Although there are shoots lined up in other places, I have prioritised elections first. This would be the third polls where I would be voting,” he said.
Many others News Today spoke to said they had planned vacation trips, but would leave the city only after casting their vote.
Omni Bus Owners’ Association general secretary, Anbazhagan, stated that 70 per cent booking to various places in south India was already done.
Analysing the pattern, he said, “A majority of the places of choice are districts like Madurai and Tiruchi.”