The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Vacations may cast a shadow on fortunes of candidates

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Sunday, May 25, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Vacations may cast a shadow on fortunes of candidates

M. Srinivas

HYDERABAD: Summer vacation certainly means relief to students, but it may cast a shadow on the fortunes of candidates in the fray for the byelections to Khairatabad, Musheerabad and Secunderabad Assembly Constituencies on May 29.

Reason. Several families will be away enjoying the summer vacation and that could lead to a less-than-usual turnout.

This is the time of the year when families usually plan trips across the country, either on pilgrimage or simply as a get-away from the oppressive heat of Hyderabad.

The situation turned even-more-disappointing for candidates with the announcement of EAMCET results on Saturday, as most families plan to visit places like Tirupati and Shirdi after the meritorious performance of their children. Parents believe that it is the ideal time to visit shrines as results of various examinations were already declared.

“We are going on a South India tour covering temples as my daughter secured first division in SSC examination,” said A. Krishnaveni from Secunderabad.

A look at the voting pattern in 2004 and 1999 polls indicates how it hit the prospects of winning candidates.

In 1999, BJP candidate Dr. K. Laxman won from Musheerabad Assembly Constituency with a majority of 18,567 votes against the Congress candidate K. Kodanda Reddy. But in 2004, the BJP leader lost by just 240 votes to his TRS rival Nayani Narasimha Reddy. Holidaying of voters could have been one of the main reasons.

Almost similar is the situation in Secunderabad Assembly constituency.

In 1999, T. Srinivas Yadav (TDP) defeated Mary Ravindranath (Congress) with 37,523 votes. In 2004, Mr. Yadav lost to T. Padma Rao (TRS) by just 3,067 votes. Mr. Yadav said it was the fundamental right of people to cast their ballot for an eligible candidate, but most of them were ignorant.

“We are educating residents on the importance of each vote during the election campaign to increase voting percentage,” he added.

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