Students, lecturers and people from a broad spectrum of society took part in a rally held as part of a campaign to promote awareness on voting right in the town on Saturday. Principal K.Venkata Murali Mohan flagged off the rally. In a novel approach to promote voter awareness and combine it with the joyous celebrations and traditions of Diwali, Election watch, Residential welfare associations, Let’s Vote launched a twenty days campaign that witnessed various sections of society pledging their commitment to ethical voting. This innovative campaign was aimed at instilling a sense of responsibility and civic duty among the citizens. The campaign commenced on the first day at Teegala Krishna Reddy Ground, an event that saw new voters, faculty members and non teaching staff coming together organize rallies, pledge, candle marches and human chains.
“No Voter to Be Left Behind”
A mass campaign was started in TKR Grounds on Saturday which saw enthusiastic participation from different colleges of society, be it students, faculty, Government employees and Civil Society organizations. An awareness rally was carried with over 5000 participants and made a strong appeal to people to cast their votes on 30th November. The rally stopped intermittently to include voters in pledging their support for upcoming elections. Finally the rally culminated in front of Teegala Krishna Reddy Engineering College where everyone took an oath to participate responsibly and ethically in coming elections without any fear, pressure or greed. Let’s Vote National Convener Prof. K.Subba Rangaiah and other officials also took part in the voter awareness campaign. A carriage was prepared for the campaign which conveyed messages such as ‘Vote and Celebrate Democracy’, ‘Know your constituency’s election dates’ and ‘Vote without fail’. The carriage will be rallied through various Assembly constituencies along with a team of street play artists. A team of information and broadcasting ministry will also be following the carriage to various places spreading the message to vote among the citizens.
The campaign was kick-started by Let’s Vote, Election Watch and several Civil Societies cutting the ribbon. Dean Dr M.Suresh Babu, NSS Program officers Kumar Swamy, Sunitha, Pharmacy College Principal K.Vijaya and several others spoke on the event. Let’s Vote is conducting a massive event at Gachibowli Stadium on 25th November 2023. A low voter turnout was recorded in the high-stakes Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections in 2020 with 35.80% of voters exercising their franchise. There are several reasons for the low turnout in a city that appears fatigued with the neglect of development agenda. Voters are aware that the development agenda is being side-stepped because of delivery failures. They are also aware that this is the reason why emotive issues are whipped up, whether on religion or caste, so that the unfilled promises of earlier elections are forgotten.
