Shed narrow partisan interests, focus on real issues: young voters to leaders
First-time voters displaying their voter ID cards at a polling station under Dispur LAC, on Tuesday. – UB Photos
City Correspondent
GUWAHATI, April 6: The young voters of Guwahati who actively exercised their franchise from the first hour of voting today, want their leaders to go beyond narrow partisan interests and instead focus on ‘real issues’ such as jobs, women’s safety and various civic issues.
Mondeep Deka, engineering student and a voter of Gauhati East LAC, said, “The youths of Assam today are more concerned with their future, employment opportunities and higher education, rather than the freebies being offered by almost all the major political parties.”
He added, “Our politicians should rather concentrate on the real issues. At a time when substance abuse is growing at an alarming rate, employment opportunities are shrinking due to the COVID-induced situation, campus recruitment in engineering colleges has come down, we need to be careful in choosing our representatives.”
“My vote is for the betterment of society. I have cast my vote in favour of the candidate who will be able to solve our issues. I want my representative to highlight issues like unemployment and schemes related to the weavers of the State. Both short-term and long-term schemes for the weavers of our area as well as the entire State will help in creating more job opportunities in this sector,” said young voter Hirak Jyoti Choudhury of Sualkuchi.
Hirak Das of Jalukbari said that he had cast his vote not only for the city or the candidate in particular but for a party that can ensure development throughout the State. If the government is strong at the State level, only then can real development take place, he said.
While some young voters selected candidates based on their party affiliation, there were many who took the decision based on the work done by the local leaders.
“Voting is our constitutional right. The most important issue under discussion is communal disharmony being witnessed over the last one year. As young conscious voters we need to choose our candidates wisely. So I voted with the mindset that our candidate can make a difference,” said Anindita Roy of Gauhati East LAC.
“I want environmental pollution, safety of women, domestic violence, rape and unemployment to be addressed properly in the State in the coming days,” she added.
Munni Begum of Dispur constituency said she had cast her vote hoping that the civic issues pertaining to the city would be taken care of. “I voted for the candidate who, I think, can solve various civic issues of Guwahati including waterlogging, supply of water and streetlights,” she said.
“To me, candidate is more important than party. Being a responsible voter, I cast my vote for the candidate who will take steps for the overall development of my area,” said Dhrubajyoti Bordoloi. To him, freedom from communal racism, freedom of speech, social hygiene, basic infrastructure, corruption-free administration and more opportunities to youths are more important and he wants his representative to highlight these issues in the coming days.
“I also want a free and fair process in the government sector whether it is for jobs or scholarships,” Dhrubajyoti added.
The young voters were also seen taking selfies and uploading them on social media.
