The ongoing assembly elections in Telangana are throwing up some interesting and peculiar situations.
While almost all the political parties are concentrating on garnering the support of Seemandhra settlers in different parts of the state, particularly in Greater Hyderabad limits, it suddenly dawned upon them that they have to also woo Andhra Pradesh government employees staying in Hyderabad.
More than 3,000 employees of Andhra Pradesh government have made Hyderabad their home, as they have their own houses and other properties here.
They regularly go to Amaravati and other parts of AP daily to work there and return to Hyderabad during the week-ends.
All their families stay here in Hyderabad and the total number of such Andhra voters registered in Hyderabad is said to be around 11,000.
They are mostly concentrated in LB Nagar, Kukatpalli, ECIL, R K Puram and even Maheshwaram and Chevella areas.
Now, the question is how these AP government employees and their family members vote in the Telangana elections.
The Chandrababu Naidu government has declared a holiday for this 3,000-odd employees on December 7, to enable them to go to Hyderabad to cast their vote.
They might not be a big deciding factor, but when there is a close contest, their votes will definitely turn crucial for any political party.
That is why, the major parties – Telangana Rashtra Samithi as well as Maha Kootami candidates are making frantic search for their addresses and seek their support.
They are luring these Andhra employees by holding meetings with the employees associations and also through social media.
It will be interesting to watch which way they would incline in the elections.