As the Delhi Lok Sabha elections approach on May 25, residents and families face a tough choice between prioritising holiday getaways and fulfilling their civic responsibilities. With a long weekend on the horizon, starting from Buddha Purnima on May 23, until Sunday, May 26, residents might opt for travel over voting.
People said keeping in mind the dynamic tariff in the hospitality industry they booked their travel and lodging plans much before the announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule was announced and now they feel that to meet the obligation of voting they will have to incur a financial loss.
The national Capital, however, has a history of low voter turnout. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the total voter turnout in Delhi was 65.1 per cent, which declined to 60.5 per cent in 2019. The most upscale areas consistently record the lowest voter turnout rates, especially in the New Delhi and South Delhi constituencies.
Conversations with parents, teenagers, adults, children, mothers, and college students reveal Delhiites’ divided priorities. With school summer vacation excitement building up, many families have eagerly organised trips to visit relatives or explore other destinations, seeking a much-needed break from their daily routines, as summer vacation starts around May 20.
The onset of summer vacations in Delhi’s schools is likely to see a possibility of a dip in voter turnout for the Lok Sabha elections in the national Capital. People’s pre-planned trips and travel arrangements due to children’s vacations could potentially hamper the participation of many voters.
Dharmendra Kumar, father of a boy who goes to Jaspal Kaur Public School, said, “Vacations will start from May 18, so me, my wife and children are travelling to Ujjain on May 23.” When asked if he would miss the voting, he said he had already made plans and the dates of the elections were announced after booking the tickets.
Another family head Parmod Garg, who has a daughter studying in Sachdeva Public School, where the vacations start on May 16, said he is also travelling outside of Delhi, but their train tickets are still waiting.
He said if their tickets get confirmed, they will skip the voting.
Many families said they would travel to different cities outside of Delhi as a tradition of visiting the nani’s (maternal grandmother) house during summer vacations.
Delhites plan their trips during May and June to cooler regions of the country such as Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh to escape the hot weather.
Vikas Dixit, a resident of Malviya Nagar, said with schools starting their summer vacations on May 15, and as a Government employee, he will also have a long weekend due to the elections, making it convenient for him to plan a trip.
“With everyone rushing to book trips and vacations, ticket prices tend to rise as days pass. To sidestep any potential obstacles in our plans, we prefer booking in advance and plan our trips as early as possible. That’s why we’ve decided to depart from Delhi on the night of May 20,” Dixit said. The upcoming 10th and 12th-grade results have already set in holiday plans for teens, their families and school teachers. “I’ve been studying and giving exams non-stop, now, I just want a break. Thinking of heading to hill stations with my friends for some chill time,” he said.
Conversations across generations highlight the city’s divided priorities and despite the election buzz, many families stick to their pre-planned vacations, emphasising the importance of relaxation amid school and work pressures. As the holiday mood sets in, the city contends with balancing leisure with civic responsibility. Although the Election Commission has issued an advisory of paid holiday on May 25 for private and public employees.