SHIMLA: Quality education, employment opportunities and safety for women are top priorities for first-time voters in Himachal Pradesh, some of whom see the election as a choice between a “BJP dictatorship” and an “unstable coalition” like the Indian Union.
According to data released by the Election Commission, more than 170,000 first-time voters aged 18-19 across the state are voting for the first time. By-elections to four Lok Sabha seats and six state Assembly seats will be held simultaneously on June 1.
Riya, a first-time voter from Solan, says the policy of successive governments of giving free gifts to appease voters should be stopped.
“The tax-paying middle class is shouldering the burden of free benefits and funds meant for development projects are being diverted,” she said.
Nitish, another first-time voter, said he was “in a dilemma of choosing between a dictatorship and a coalition government,” apparently referring to the Narendra Modi-led central government and the Indian Union respectively.
“It’s all about making your voice heard and advocating for positive change in the political landscape,” he added.
The opposition Indian National Development Union (INDI) bloc, led by the Indian National Congress, comprises over 20 parties, including the Ahmed Party, the Samajwadi Party, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Trinamool Congress.
Rohit, a first-year student exercising his voting franchise for the first time, said, “The BJP government has become arrogant and the constitutional system is being misused and voting for Modi means supporting a dictatorial government. On the other hand, supporting the Indian Union means supporting a coalition government and an unstable government, which is also not good for the country.”
The BJP-led central government’s performance over the past decade has evoked mixed reactions among first-time voters, with some praising the previous government’s tenure while others are critical of its functioning.
Anshul Thakur, a journalism course student at Government Postgraduate College, Sanjauli, said he was excited to cast his vote for the first time.
Thakur said she would vote for a party that is committed to bringing better job opportunities and improving safety for women in the government and private sector.
Prikshit, a student of Chawla Maidan Government Postgraduate College, said he was looking forward to becoming an entrepreneur and wanted to explore new-age innovative fields.
He said he would vote for a party that is committed to promoting new technologies and a startup culture, especially among young people.
“As a first-time voter, I want the government to work on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), education policy, focus on states and regions like the northeast and Ladakh that have been neglected by the government so far and bring in more culture-based services,” said Vashisht Sharma, a student of a PG college in Sanjauli.
Other first-time voters said they would choose the NOTA (not applicable) option to express their dissatisfaction with the candidates fielded by political parties.
Mandi resident Aditi Thakur, who will be voting for the first time, said she will opt for NOTA in the Lok Sabha elections as she felt none of the candidates lived up to her expectations.
Published May 27, 2024 12:32 IST
