Youngsters vote for first time but only on parents' advice

While around 16 lakh people were added to the voter list over the last municipal elections in the capital, a majority of them attained voting rights for the first time.

While several first-time voters turned up to exercise their franchise with great excitement, when it came to decide whom to vote they just followed what their parents advised them to.

Reason, they were not much aware about the candidates in fray.

“I am very excited and that is why I asked my parents to come early to vote. I know the rationale of the municipal elections and how it is different from the legislature and Parliament elections.

However, I chose the party which my parents suggested me to vote,” said Ritika, a resident of Mayur Vihar -1 after exercising her vote at Ahlcon Public school booth of the Patparganj constituency.

Similarly, Dinesh Verma, a B Tech student said he too voted on his parents’ advice.
“I know the parties in the fray and the issues of my constituency, but it was difficult to know the candidates. The candidate I voted for is known to my family. So I voted for him,” said Dinesh, a Pratap Nagar resident.

Some other first time voters said they followed the instruction of their parents as they were too busy in studies to find time to go through the candidates' profiles and their manifestos.

“I was preparing for my exams when candidates were moving around in the locality. I had not gone through their profile and what they were promising. But I am sure, my parents know who would be the best corporator for our area,” said Subhi, a student of Delhi University and voter of Trilokpuri constituency.

Riti Chaudhary, a fourth year B Tech student said though she was following her father's advice she was not sure whether her father knows the candidates well.

“I followed the campaign, but whom to vote was decided after parents’ advice. But I am not sure whether my father knows the past and present of the candidates well,” added Riti.