Vijayawada, April 8: From today, an outward movement of working population in Hyderabad and adjoining region has been witnessed, as scores of voters of Andhra Pradesh-origin will crossover to register their mandate. They would be participating in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections scheduled simultaneously on April 11, 2019.

The South Central Railway has announced 53 special trains between April 8-10 from Hyderabad to various parts of Andhra, including Vijayawada, Srikakulam, Narsapur, Tirupati and Kakinada. However, the Railway PRO has cited summer holidays as the reason for the additional routes. Chandrababu Naidu Releases Party Manifesto Ahead of Lok Sabha Elections 2019

Those boarding these trains have confirmed to the local media that they are travelling to their native places to cast their votes in the assembly elections, along with the Lok Sabha polls.

Notably, a total of 26 parliamentary constituencies and 175 assembly segments will be contested in the first phase elections scheduled on Thursday.

An estimate released by the YSR Congress Party claimed that there are nearly two million voters who have registered themselves in both Telangana and Andhra. At least half of them, a party insider said, would be travelling to Andhra as the assembly elections are also being held.

According to pollsters, the rush seen among settlers to return to their native lands for polls is not a new phenomenon. Whenever the electoral battle appears to be right down the middle, the voters are over enthusiastic to play the decisive role.

Contrary to the 2014 elections, Chandrababu Naidu is facing one of his most stringent challenges this time around. Several pre-poll surveys have given the edge to the YSRCP, predicting YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to form the next government.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 08, 2019 09:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).