First-time voters make their mark in Mumbai elections

Around 100,000 first-time voters exercised their right to vote in Mumbai on Monday, where the fifth and final round of voting for the Maharashtra Lok Sabha elections was held.

Parental guidance, social media content, and personal research influenced the selection of MPs from their respective constituencies. A small minority of young voters voiced disillusionment as they felt that no leader could adequately address their concerns or serve as a viable alternative to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, despite being “unworthy of re-election” raised.

“The current leader has become a dictator, but he has power and has relationships with the people. The opposition lacks relationships. I personally think what is important at the national level? , I’m going to vote to see the bigger picture,” said first-time voter Ishika Danmeher as she waited in line to exercise her right to vote in Mahim.

Many new voters aged 18-20 share Dhanmeher’s views. Sneha Kumar, another young voter from Dharavi, noted that people are looking at this election as a question of who will govern from the centre. “We are very aware of the political crisis in Maharashtra, religion dominates development, but the rest of the people, except Modi, are not as strong as him. It is the perception of Modi that will decide,” Kumar said. Kumar also said that she faced casteism and racism during her school days but believes that no one can do anything about it.

“I don’t know any candidates here. It makes no sense as my grandfather has been living here for many years but he cannot even get a caste certificate,” added his brother Ganesh Kumar, also a new voter.

Young people are obsessed with unexplainable forces, heroic figures who bring about change, but unless we open our minds and see the bigger picture, it will remain. Social media also creates images, and voting behavior reflects that. On the other hand, we are also influenced by where our parents’ loyalties lie. A minority of voters are uninformed and are easily swayed because they receive unfiltered and half-baked information,” Deepak Pawar, head of political science at the University of Mumbai, said of first-time voters’ views. Ta. way of thinking.

Of the 13 constituencies in Lok Sabha, 10 are in the Mumbai metropolitan area. Of the 99,386,210,000 voters, 53.46 million are men, 45.9 million are women, and 1,039 are transgender voters. At least 1,11,275 citizens in the age group of 18 and 19 years are first-time voters, according to data from the Mumbai Collector’s Office.

New voters were excited but confused at the same time as many were yet to decide on a candidate. “I am excited but confused because till now I have never participated in politics but I am contributing through my vote. I might go astray,” said Vidya Narayankar. The 19-year-old is an arts student who lives in Dharavi. She said she did not have much knowledge about the candidates and her vote was based on her father’s instructions. Aditi Shah, a voter from Borivali, said, “Before coming to the booth, we discussed who I would vote for. I don’t know the candidate but I will cast my vote for the development of the country. The same sentiment was echoed by student Sakshi Tandel (18), who said, “My aunt has shown me the symbol and so I will vote for that person.” Tandel lives in Mahim.

For a minority of young voters, the election narrative centers on the country’s education and development. Nasir Shaikh from Zion said, “I decided to vote for education, research the candidates and vote. There are 15 candidates running from my constituency. I know them very well.”