Mangaluru/Udupi: North Karnataka voters flock home for Lok Sabha Polls

Team Udayavani, May 6, 2024, 8:58 AM IST

Mangaluru / Udupi: Workers and employees from poll-bound areas of Karnataka are returning to their hometowns in droves to participate in the Lok Sabha Elections scheduled for May 7.  This migration back to their native places has been observed particularly among those hailing from North Karnataka.

The 14 constituencies set for polling on Tuesday include Belgaum (Belagavi), Uttara Kannada, Chikkodi, Bagalkot (Bagalkote), Bidar, Haveri, Dharwad, Koppal, Bellari (Ballari), Raichur, Bijapur (Vijayapura), Davangere, Shimoga (Shivamogga), and Gulbarga (Kalaburagi).

At the KSRTC bus stand, a noticeable crowd gathered on Sunday night, as families took advantage of the holiday to travel together. Many individuals told “Udayavani” their intention to spend about a week in their hometowns.

Additionally, there were murmurs among passengers about alleged attempts by activists of various political parties to secure bus seats through bribery.

The surge in travelers resulted in long queues at ticket and inquiry counters, with seats filling up rapidly on buses headed towards North Karnataka. It is anticipated that more individuals will depart on Monday.

The workers from North Karnataka, who are engaged in various occupations such as construction, waste disposal, household chores, daily wage labour, fishing, and factory work in Mangaluru and its suburbs, contribute significantly to the local economy. However, their temporary absence may lead to a shortage of labor in certain sectors.

Moreover, there is a possibility of a slight disruption in waste disposal services within the city limits of Mangaluru and Udupi. Many individuals involved in waste disposal operations, including drivers, loaders, and helpers, hail from the outer districts and possess voter cards in their current place of residence. However, since a considerable number of them are originally from North Karnataka and have traveled back to their hometowns, there may be temporary challenges until their return.