Leaders beware – Informed young voters out to exercise franchise

By PRABEER SIKDAR
DEHRADUN, 6 May 2009:
Unlike what politicians think, young ‘n’ energetic voters, who have been hit by the poll bug, are not that easy to woo. Their fundas are clear: know the background of the contestant first, and then cast votes.
So, what if none of the contestants are up to the mark? “I have already heard about 49-0. So, if none of the contestants are fit, I would cast a protest vote,” said Mohit Kukreti, 19, who is doing a Hotel Management course in Mumbai.
Here in Doon to spend his vacation, Kukreti, who acknowledges his ignorance about the background of the contestants from the Tehri LS seat, said that he would bank upon Wikipedia and Google. “If these are not sufficient, I would depend upon the feedback from friends and family members.
”Issues According to Kukreti, the state lacks infrastructure. “National security and education in remote areas are other issues of concern,” he said.
The issue is also the same for Daman Preet Singh, 20, who is doing CA Inter from ICAI. “What we require are better basic facilities. We are still forced to travel in Vikrams, which should change,” said Singh, who knows the background of all the contestants from Tehri LS seat.
Disclosing his choice as Manmohan Singh, he concluded that the latest shoegate incident by Jarnail Singh on Union Home Minister P Chidambram would prompt Sikhs to switch over to the BJP camp because of the Congress’ inaction on the anti-Sikh riots cases. “I met this man, recently, at a Gurudwara in Chandni Chowk. The Delhi SGPC awarded Jarnail Singh a cash award of Rs 2 lakh for his daring action,” he claimed.
Ankush Negi, 20, a student of BBA (IMS), is well informed about the candidates in the fray in Tehri. “Bahuguna is a good choice over others,” he said, pointing out that celebrities never turn out to be good politicians. “If Jaspal Rana gets elected, he would also go the Govinda way,” he opined.
But what if the contestant he supports fails to do justice? “I would have no option but to wait for the next election.
”Prashant Pundeer, 21, another student of BBA (IMS), wants his ideal public representative to provide good infrastructure for higher education. “I, as well my other BBA friends, would support the candidature of Baguguna as he wants to set up an IIM in Doon,” he pointed out.
(All the students featured in the story attended a public meeting addressed by Vijay Bahuguna.)
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