The millennial generation counts

Aditi Tandon

If the pre-election speech is to be unanimous, all political parties, mainly the ruling BJP and Congress, work overtime to impress the millennia. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to young people via Twitter to register as voters. "The 2019 elections are special because, for the first time, people born in the 21st century will be able to vote. I hope that all the eligible young people who have not yet registered to do so will do so and will enrich our democracy by voting, "said the Prime Minister, following the message of a series of elections. calls to all sectors to raise voter awareness.

Why are millennia important? In the 2019 elections, starting April 11, the 18-19 age group will be a rotating constituency with 15 million voters out of a total of 900 million voters. It's not surprising that, immediately after the Chief Electoral Commissioner announced the 17th general election last Sunday, the Prime Minister turned to Twitter to say, "The Democracy Festival is here … J & # Urges my Indian compatriots to enrich the 2019 elections in Lok Sabha with their active participation. I hope this election will witness a historic turnout. I especially appeal to voters for the first time to vote in record numbers.

BJP supported by Young in 2014

In the 2014 elections in Lok Sabha, the BJP pbaded the mark of the majority of young voters. A post-election survey conducted by the Center for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) found that for the first time young people exceeded the general category participation rate in India. Young voters were overwhelmingly in favor of the BJP, which won 34% of the votes cast by 18-25 year olds. The congress attracted only 19%. This explains the mad rush of political parties to the temptation of this restive constituency.

Modi has often spoken of the power of young voters, including in his Independence Day speech in 2018. His contacts with high school students after he came to power in 2014 were considerable, as these students now have the right to vote. Recently, on the eve of the start of the board exams, the Prime Minister addressed the students by explaining the values ​​of stress-free learning. Congress President Rahul Gandhi, meanwhile, began a bit late to engage this key segment by launching a youth outreach plan, Apni Baat Rahul ke Saath, last month. The first event was held at an upscale restaurant in Delhi, attended by eight young people, mostly voters for the first time.

What are they thinking about?

So what does young India think? While the opposition would like to imagine that the basic problems of bread and butter, jobs and freedoms would dominate young minds, they might be surprised. A representative sample of early voters, The Tribune, said that national security and India's appropriate response to Pakistan after the Pulwama terrorist attack dominated conversations between young students and that they loved Uri, a Bollywood movie about the surgical strike of the Indian Army 2016 after the terrorist attack of Uri. Balakot's strike by the Indian Air Force after the Pulwama attack was an "absolute need," they said. "Muh tod jawaab diya hai," said Saurabh Tripathi, a student of social work, about the IAF attacks on terrorist camps.

million. Tripathi said he and his friends were impressed by the diplomatic efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who forced Pakistan to liberate his country. the IAF pilot captured in record time. "It was great, it shows that the world is listening to us," said Tripathi.

Every student randomly approached to comment on the factors influencing their voting preferences seemed very enthusiastic about the reaction of the student. India in Pulwama Divya Tomar, a stenographer, said, "I do not like the fact that the opposition is questioning air strikes, we need unity in national security. especially when the government has been so successful in strengthening Indian defense and giving Pakistan its place. "

Scenario of poor employment, low agricultural income, agrarian distress and violation of fundamental rights, problems not in favor of BJP does not seem to resonate much with youth, but they could be latent problems Tuheena Arun, a B Com student at Dyal Singh College, said, "Jobs are a problem, but i would like to be a job creator, but i would like to be a job creator. searcher. I think the government has done well on the economic front. The last budget was very good for the middle clbad. "

Quota Counter

Researchers point out that youth voting is confusing. For example, although young people should ideally be fervent freedoms, a 2017 study on youth aspirations conducted by the CSDS and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung revealed that the majority of young people interviewed were in favor of the ban. films that offended religious feelings; half of them said that beef should not be allowed; another half felt that the death penalty was necessary.

Students, however, seem to think a lot about the reservation policy. Kajal Prajapati, a graduate in accounting, said she belongs to the OBC category but never received a quota. "I want to compete in the general category. I do not want doles. Bookings based on castes should be removed, "she said.

Vikrant Sharma, another young voter, adds that reservations make sense if they are based on people's economic well-being. "The recent bill giving 10 per cent quota of jobs and education to the poor in all general categories is a step forward," he adds.

The hyper-nationalism post-Pulwama and Balakot being the only visible thread in the conversations between young people, it remains to be seen whether the BJP will retain its young base of support in the LS polls of 2019. If so, how.

Figure:

• 15 million: Number of new voters aged 18-19. This group represents 1.66% of the total electorate
• 2.1 million: The number of voters for the first time in West Bengal for these elections, the maximum in all states. UP occupies the second highest place (16.7 lakh), followed by the deputy (13.6 lakh), Rajasthan (12.8 lakh), Maharashtra (11.9 lakh), Tamil Nadu (8.9 lakh) and Andhra Pradesh (5.3 lakh)
• 900 million: Total number of voters in these elections, an increase of 84 million compared to the 2014 elections in Lok Sabha

Young people in the lead

• The Indian Youth Congress recently completed its youth outreach plan as part of the Yuva Kranti Yatra campaign
• In his first Mann Ki Baat in 2019, the First Minister Modi spoke of the exploits of youth and urged them to register as voters. He said: "We must all realize that the right to vote is an important right to vote in the lives of voters."
• In January 2019, the BJP launched a special campaign in Mumbai to target young people. He was called Modi Yuva Shakti
• On the eve of the 70th anniversary of the Republic Day, President Ram Nath Kovind mentioned the millennia, highlighting the crucial role they will play in electoral politics [19659025] Novice voters take

  Priyanka Devi 19

  • Qualification: Matriculate
  • State: Himachal Pradesh
  • Problems: We need better educational facilities and better road connectivity (especially in mountainous regions). The lack of teaching staff and adequate infrastructure affects the quality of education. I believe that women need to be more represented in politics because they are capable of effective change.
  • Why would you vote? I am excited to be practicing my law for the first time. I want to use the power of my vote to bring honest people to power. The political leaders and legislators we elected should work towards the elimination of corruption.

  Sahil Kumar 18

  • Qualification: Pursuit of advanced technology
  • State: Himachal Pradesh
  • Problems: Unemployment is the main concern. In a mountainous state such as ours, opportunities are limited and young people have to leave the state to find a job. If more jobs and livelihoods are created for local youth, the state would prosper.
  • Why would you vote? I would vote for the election of a candidate who defends youth issues, such as freedom of expression on social networks, and proposes viable solutions to fight unemployment.

  Ajay Pandita 19

  • Qualification: Continuation of B Com
  • State: Jammu & Kashmir
  • Problems: Delay in the implementation of a train of rehabilitation measures for displaced Pandits of 3 , 5 lakh and rapid recruitment under the Prime Minister's program. In addition, better infrastructure in IDP camps in Jagti, Purkhoo, Nagrota, Muthii and Buta Nagar in Jammu
  • Why would you want to vote: My generation, born and raised in migrant camps, hopes that the new government we elected the center and in the state should work for our rehabilitation and youth empowerment.

  Rafia Reshi 21

  • Qualification: Political Science (specialization)
  • State: Jammu and Kashmir
  • Issues: There are problems outside the conflict in Kashmir, such as crimes against women. Unfortunately, everything is covered by the coverage of the conflict. Women's safety is a priority issue
  • Why would you vote: First, I will not vote. Why should I vote while no one has done well in Kashmir for decades? I do not find any party in Kashmir so credible. If I had lived in another state, I would have definitely exercised my right to elect our representatives.

  Sunny Devi 23

  • Qualification: Matriculate
  • State: Haryana
  • Issues: Better health and education institutions, especially for women, at the grbadroots and with good infrastructure such as only roads. Discrimination between women in rural and urban areas must disappear.
  • Why would you want to vote: I will use my vote to bring honest people and those who will work to provide basic and better equipment, such as water and food. hours on 24

  Pardeep 19

  • Qualification: Clbad XII
  • State: Chandiagarh
  • Major problems: There is a huge problem of waste disposal, lack of water, roads. We do not have access to quality education in public schools, and most people like me can not afford to go to private schools.
  • Are you going to vote? Yes.

  Aparna 19

  • Qualification: Bachelor of Fine Arts- I
  • State: Delhi
  • Subjects: Terror sponsored by Pakistan and India's tough position on counter-terrorism are at the center of concerns. In addition, unemployment and economic reforms such as demonetization and the GST and crimes against women are priority issues.
  • Why would you want to vote: every vote is valuable … I know the importance of elections. In my vote, women's security and the fight against terrorism will be the main decisive factors in the election of the member of my region.

  Ruqiyya 19

  • Qualification: B.Sc-III
  • State: Uttar Pradesh
  • Questions: As young women, we are concerned about unemployment. More importantly, many people lost their jobs as a result of demonetization. Unemployment is at an unprecedented level, causing enormous desperation and frustration among young people.
  • Why would you vote? The party that will get my vote must have a concrete plan for the security of Muslims. The lynching must stop. The new government should review the bill on triple talaq.

  Nemai Chandra Mandal 21

  • Qualification: Eighth
  • (working as an electrician)
  • State: Kolkata
  • Problems: We generally discuss air strikes and action against Pakistan, local issues are key . Job creation and job security are important.
  • Why would you want to vote? I am delighted with the prospect of voting for the elections in Lok Sabha. I will vote for the party that guarantees us, the refugees whose ancestors arrived in India from East Pakistan after separation, security of employment in 1947.

  Bhupinder Singh 18

  • Qualification: Matriculate
  • State: Punjab
  • Problems: As the son of a farmer, my main concern is about the acquisition of crops and the improvement of yields. The distress of farmers is the key issue.
  • Why would you vote: I will vote for the party that provides a mechanism for better purchases and a profitable price for the product. The political leaders and legislators we have elected should work to solve farmers' problems and increase their incomes.

  Ankit Kumar Shrivastava 19

  • Qualification: Continuation of Graduation
  • State: Bihar
  • Problems: Unemployment, pollution, quality education, corruption and public order.
  • Why would you vote? In addition to national security, the new government should work to create jobs, fight pollution and improve the education system.