With the Lok Sabha elections looming, first time voters are gearing up to exercise their democratic right amidst a whirlwind of anticipation and enthusiasm. Apart from eagerly awaiting their first-time vote, these young citizens are diligently preparing by familiarising themselves with the candidates' backgrounds and ensuring their names are on the voter list, despite facing some last-minute hurdles in the process.
Tina Choudhury of GPlus went on ground and engaged with first time voters to gauge their sentiments ahead of the upcoming elections. The responses were diverse, reflecting a spectrum of hopes, concerns, and aspirations. From calls for indigenous representation and infrastructure development to demands for fair electoral processes and inclusive governance, they expressed a range of perspectives on the pressing issues facing their constituencies and the nation as a whole.
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Himanchal Dutta
Department of Communication and Journalism, Gauhati University
"As a citizen of the renamed Kaziranga Lok Sabha Constituency, definitely my vote will be in favour of my own land. Nowadays my Motherland i.e Assam is suffering from an identity crisis because of the implementation of CAA. So I would prefer to vote for someone who will strongly raise his/her voice in the House for my land, for my language. And also like other voters, I want development in my area. My legislative constituency is Bokakhat i.e. under Kaziranga Lok Sabha Constituency. The harsh reality is little industrial development can be done because the area is sandwiched between an ‘eco-sensitive zone’ because of the Kaziranga National Park, and a ‘no development zone’. Therefore, only educational or medical institutions can be built or developed in this area. So I expect the elected to do his or her duty towards the much-needed development of my area”.
Dipankar Ojha
M.A. 2nd Semester, MIL&LS, Gauhati University
"As a younger generation of new voters, we are committed to the democratic process and the upcoming elections. We believe that voting is the most important mechanism in a democratic country to advance the progress and development of the country. One of the greatest rights given to us by the Constitution is the right to vote. Many times it is seen that the youth play a strong role in forming governments. The youth also play an immense role in nation-building. It cannot be denied that today's students are the pioneers of tomorrow's country.
The Lok Sabha elections are approaching. But I think this election is going to be somewhat different from the previous ones. As a new voter, we are as interested in this democratic process as we are sensitive to certain questions. The issue of redesignation of newly created constituencies and massive changes in the boundaries of constituencies is a matter of concern. Ihave known Mangaldai Lok Sabha constituency I since my birth, but it has been consigned to the pages of history and instead, a newly created Darrang-Udalguri Lok Sabha constituency is in place. This is a major change not only in the name but also in the size and demographics of the constituency. Our view is that indigenous people must dominate constituencies regardless of their geographical configuration.Therefore, it is necessary to find a permanent solution to the problems and demands of the indigenous people of Assam. We as young voters certainly want candidates who can present our issues strongly in the House, and who are truly committed to the post of MP. We will look for candidates who are determined to make our dreams come true instead of dreaming in their sleep in the respected House.
Reflecting on the priorities for his constituency, Bhaskar Borah from Gauhati University emphasised the urgent need for infrastructural development, particularly in healthcare and flood management. He stressed the perennial issue of floods plaguing the region and advocated policies supporting agricultural communities.
As a voter of the Lakhimpur Lok Sabha constituency, my expectations from the elected representative would be to prioritise infrastructural development of healthcare facilities in the area as people of the constituency still have to visit Dibrugarh for any or major health issues. Somewhere, for the people of this area, flood and Lakhimpur seem to be synonyms. Travel to any part of the state and just name Lakhimpur, the first thought to pop up in people's minds is flood. So as a voter of my constituency. Given the agrarian nature of many areas in Lakhimpur, we expect policies and programmes that support farmers, including better irrigation facilities, access to credit, and market linkages. So, these are some of the expectations of a voter of Lakhimpur constituency but they can also vary based on individual priorities and community needs from person to person.”
Hemen Kalita
Ph.D. scholar in MIL&LS, Gauhati University
"We all know that the Lok Sabha elections are coming up. There are aspirations of people from all walks of life involved in this election. The youth have played an important role in every ups and downs of the country. Today's student community is very politically conscious and responsible for every issue of society.
In a democratic country, the right to vote is our constitutional right. The trust, hopes and aspirations of the people have become relevant. If I talk about my own constituency, it used to be Mangaldai Lok Sabha constituency but now after the constituency redesignation, it became Barpeta Lok Sabha constituency. It remains to be seen how much welfare the people can expect from the redesignation of this constituency. We want a secure future for the indigenous people of Assam, where a healthy political, economic and social environment will be created. We want a candidate from our constituency who will give a well-organised shape to our aspirations. In parallel, the foundation of a healthy educational environment must be laid in the state which will pave the way for the development of the state. We want a permanent solution to the growing unemployment problem and a comprehensive employment framework. As young voters today, we want value-based politics against the current lack of values in the state. We demand such people who work for the development of Assam and keep Assam shining on the map of the country".
Dhritideep Das
Law Student, Gauhati University
"As the youth of Barpeta Lok Sabha constituency in Assam, we have a unique perspective on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections of 2024. Our constituency is not only rich in natural beauty but also steeped in cultural heritage, especially when it comes to education and the preservation of our cultural roots.
One of the most iconic aspects of Barpeta's cultural heritage is the Barpeta Satra, a 16th-century Vaishnavite monastery that has been a centre for education, art, and spirituality. The satra has played a pivotal role in preserving and promoting the Satriya culture, a unique form of classical dance, music, and theatre that is indigenous to Assam. Apart from the Barpeta Satra, our district is home to several other satras that have contributed significantly to the cultural and educational landscape of Assam. These satras have not only preserved ancient manuscripts and scriptures but have also imparted education in various fields to generations of students. In addition to our cultural heritage, it is crucial to address the educational needs of our constituency. While there have been improvements in the education sector, there is still a long way to go. We urge the candidates contesting the upcoming elections to prioritise education and ensure that every child in Barpeta has access to quality education.
Furthermore, as the youth, we are concerned about the development of our 10 assembly constituencies. We believe that sustainable development should be at the forefront of any political agenda. We urge the candidates to focus on creating employment opportunities, improving infrastructure, and promoting entrepreneurship in our region.
We, the youth of Barpeta Lok Sabha constituency, are committed to preserving our cultural heritage, promoting education, and working towards the overall development of our region. We hope that the candidates will take our concerns into consideration and work towards a brighter future for all residents of Barpeta.”
Swapnil Dutta
Student, Cotton University
"I distinguish between both the national and regional parties. In my personal belief, at least regional parties should get chance in election because regional parties will understand more about their region. I definitely want our opposition parties to get stronger.
Raktim Borkakati
Student, Barpeta
"There are many regional issues like the implememtation of CAA, flood management etc which have not not got proper justice. So this time we hope whoever wins they take these matters seriously."
Bishal Kashyap Sharma
Student, Bongaigaon
"This election we expect it to be fair. There should not be any 'dadagiri'.
Parvis Jaman
Student, Darrang
"For this election, we have huge expectations. We want overall development of the nation and not just one or two individuals like Ambani or Adani. The condition of normal citizens too should be uplifted. Around 67 lakh children are famished according to reports. Nowadays media shows that development projects are ongoing but such issues are neglected on the other hand. Religion is another factor which should not be a political debate."
Bhargav Gogoi
Student, B Borooah College
"As a young voter, there are a few qualities we should look for in a candidate. Firstly, someone who is passionate and dedicated to serving the people and addressing their concerns. Some important ones include education policies and reforms, employment opportunities and healthcare accessibility and affordability, environmental conservation and sustainability, infrastructure development, and social justice issues. It's also important to stay informed about national security, women's rights, and the overall economic policies proposed by the candidates."
Bikram Goyary
Student, B Borooah College
"As a young voter, I expect politicians to address issues that directly affect our generation, such as climate change, student debt, affordable housing, and job opportunities."
Mrinal Roy
Student, B Borooah College
"As a young voter we want the government to focus on more job opportunities, development of rural areas, more focus on upcoming youth and regional problems."
Trishna Kalita
Student, Handique Girls’ College
"In a larger democratic nation, the people are the source of all might. So on the occasion of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, apart from many previous complaints of shortages of the masses, there is certainly hope and desire for the coming days. As representatives of the younger generation, we want dynamic and well-planned leadership. The leadership and politics that can contribute to the all-round development involve people from every part of the nation. In Parliament, the voice of the people should be able to select candidates who can show the way to solve the problems of the country so that the development of the country is not limited to the formation of two universities, construction of roads, overbridge construction and distribution of schemes, but in reality, the development of the health sector, education sector, etc. is accelerated. We want to elect qualified leaders based on skill, ability, action, eloquence, and foresight."