Youth no more want hollow promises. They want development, employment and empowerment. “So, we would select the right candidate who could provide more opportunities and deliver results,” is the opinion of the majority of the youth surveyed by the students of Journalism and Mass Communication Institute, Allahabad University.
More than 70 per cent of the youth who were surveyed said the “right to recall” a public representative would go a long way in inculcating a sense of responsibility among public representatives. Also, majority of the youth was vocal that politicians neither have any agenda nor any vision for development. They have only one vision — to win the election, grab power and create wealth at the cost of the public.
Almost 100 per cent voiced opinion against tainted candidates having criminal background. The youth clearly said that “before election, every party condemns entry of criminals in politics, but at the time of distribution of tickets, they gleefully declare them as their party candidate”. One youth pointed out that over a 100 tainted candidates fielded by different political parties would try their luck in the fourth round of UP polls.
Rajeev Pathak, a youth from City South, said if politicians had followed the concept of democracy honestly, the country would have been among the great world economic powers. Om Prakash, a young teacher, opined that every politician knew how to make false promises and how to befool public by juicy pledges. Dileep Kumar and Arvind Shukla, both post-graduate students, said that there was a need to create awareness among the politicians that time for making hollow promises was over and delivering results was a must.
“Now public want work and result,” he added. Mohd Ayub said if a problem persists in any constituency where a particular person was winning in successive elections, then he must be held responsible for neglecting the people who had sent him to the legislature. For such situation, right to recall would be a perfect tool. Kailash Agarwal, a resident of City West said: “It is very strange that not a single political party is serious about removing corruption. Instead of talking about development, they were busy wooing various communities.” He suggested rejecting the liars, power hungry and party-hopping candidates.
A group of degree college students commented that politicians had spread casteism and were asking and calculating votes on cast basis. But they would vote for only those candidates, who are young, uncontroversial and honest. Vandana, who will vote for the first time, raised her voice against political leaders who played divisive politics. She commented that before election, they play with the sentiments of voters, but later shake hands. The ultimate sufferer is the voter as he found himself to be cheated. So young voter would teach them a lesson this time, she claimed.
Meanwhile, the recent addition of 3.19 lakh new voters in district’s electoral roll had made all parties to sit up and take notice of this group of voters, who boast of numbers that could tilt the balance in a party’s favour in almost all the 12 Assembly segments of Allahabad.
During the 2012 Assembly elections, Handia had the largest chunk of first-time voters. They swung the balance in favour of the Samajwadi Party candidate after the party promised free laptops to youth. Now, the first time voters have a major influence in all the segments of the district, including Allahabad North, Allahabad South, Allahabad West, Phaphamau, Soraon, Pratappur, Koraon, Bara, Meja, Karchana, Phulpur and Handia.
Congress MlA from City North Anugrah Narayan Singh accepted the fact that first-time voters decided the fate of a candidate when he said, “New age voters will now decide the fate of the country and Allahabad is no different.” He further said, “late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi always said that youngsters should play a major role in electing a Government. It is now coming true.”
District convener of AAP Anjani Kumar Mishra said, “We are regularly raising issues related to students and their problems.” Apart from enrolling them as members and volunteers, he said, “We are also apprising them of Swaraj. We are making all efforts to bring them into party-fold.”
BJP district president said, “We have already roped in 12,125 members in six mandals through BJYM membership drive.” He further said, “We aim to rope in more youth through them.” Meanwhile, senior Samajwadi Party leader SMH Rizvi said, “The State Government has launched several beneficial schemes for youngsters and schemes like laptop distribution and scholarship will surely do wonder in days to come.”
Senior Congress leader Tariq Syed Ajju said, “Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi empowered the youth by lowering voting age to 18 years.” He further said, “With Rahul Gandhi as youth icon, we will surely interact and attract youngsters to our fold,” he added.