Indoreans plan short getaways as V-day coincides with weekend

Indore: The pullout of Congress candidate from the race and voting day coinciding with the long weekend in the summer vacation amid a subdued campaigning has led many Indoreans to plan short gateways, prompting political parties and travel operators to step in measures to encourage voting turnout.
Travel operators and rental cab services have witnessed a spike in last moment travel plans for short getaways from a significant number of clients for places like Pachmarhi, Udaipur, Jodhpur and Gujarat for the weekend.
As per travel agents, enquiries and booking for short trips to close by destinations have jumped by more than 30 per cent in over a fortnight while May being the peak travel month due to summer vacations in school, seasonal travel movement remains high.
Travel Agents Association of India MP and CG chapter chairman, Hemendra Singh Jadon said, “There is a sudden jump in enquiries and bookings from clients for weekend trips extended until Monday. Travel plans for Pachmarhi, Udaipur, Jodhpur and Gujarat are in most demand. Looking at the trend, our association decided to come out and make an appeal to people to vote and then plan their travel.”
More than 45 travel agents under the aegis of the Travel Agents Association of India MP and CG chapter stood with placards with messages to encourage voting at Chappan Dukan on Saturday.
The withdrawal of nomination by the Congress candidate Akshay Bam at the last moment and a subdued political campaigning where star campaigners chose to stay away from one of the prestigious Indore Lok Sabha seat, took away the sheen and interest of voters, said respondents.
An automobile showroom owner from Indore holidaying in Uttrakhand with family wishing anonymity said, “There is not much left in the election without an opposition, it’s one sided. We have voted every time but this time the equation was very different and not in favour of a democratic system.”
Another respondent, a leading jeweller from Indore on a vacation to Gujarat said, “This is not less than cheating with the people of Indore. There was absolutely no need to do this kind of politics. Elections happen so that people can vote and choose the best candidate.”