Bhubaneswar: The 2019 general elections, scheduled from April 11 to May 19, will have around 8.1 crore first time voters who were born between 1997 and 2001.
These first-timers will exercise their franchise in a game changing election in Indian history to constitute the 17th Lok Sabha. Their votes will be crucial for all parties.
Orissa POST spoke to a few new voters to find out what they expect of the government, and how important voting is for them. Excerpts.
Sanchita Dwivedi, 20, a student of English literature, said the coming election is going to be her first chance to vote. “I hope the new government would try to solve problems like poverty, unemployment, poor healthcare and agricultural distress among others. I think the BJP’s campaign is extremely misleading. The public is too naive to look at the well planned propaganda behind films and how they are strengthening the roots of communalism. It is essential for educated people to vote,” she said.
Manisha Agarwal, a 19-year-old B.Com student, said, “This year I will be able to vote. I have been a BJP supporter as my maternal grandpa was connected to the party. After Modi came to power the BJP has been in my mind as I don’t think Rahul Gandhi is capable of leading the country. The last five years of the BJP Government was not enough to implement the party’s ideas. I think, the people should give some more time to the party. I hope the government would expose all the frauds related to banks. I want Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi punished. I also expect the BJP would fulfil all the promises it had made to the farmers and to the poor.”
Vivek Singh Kushwaha, 25, an entrepreneur, said the current situation in India is very bleak. “We don’t want money from the government or free wifi. We want a peaceful nation and jobs for all,” he said.
Environmentalist Neelima Mishra, 33, and consultant to the Government of Odisha, said, “There should be some mechanism by which one can compare the promises given at the beginning and the results at the end of the five-year tenure. I want a party which stands for environmental causes, gives prime importance to the protection of biodiversity, protects endangered species and also involves the community in these things.”
Veenit Kumar Sureka, 19, a B.Com student said, “Many people are unemployed and jobs are not sufficient. The government must create jobs so that no one remains unemployed and the country would develop. This is my basic demand. Another demand would be to reduce reservations in education as meritorious candidates are unable to get what they deserve. I want all contesting candidates to be free of corruption. I also seriously want educated people to contest and a country free of corruption. Candidates should work for the people and must give their entire time to the people in their areas.”
Saranya Das, a 21-year-old MA English student said, “There are many things that have been accepted as a part of life here, but has to be eradicated. To start with, the mentality of the people needs to be blamed at several levels. The first issue I have in mind is discrimination on the basis of baseless parameters. We need a government that does not take offence in the name of culture. A government that considers serious issues like the safety of women. A government which seriously reflects upon all issues ranging from the ban on meat to the way rapists are punished (or rather not punished) to the way how eve-teasing is handled.”
Barsha Mallick, 23, a social worker and biker said, “My first demand is steps to counter water scarcity. We need measures to increase groundwater levels, enforce water harvesting and other water conservation methods to ensure that future generations do not suffer. The second is the need to check crimes against women and the drug mafia as they are two dangers facing society.”
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