Elections are no time to holiday!

Youth speak

Every vote counts, especially when it decides the trajectory your country will take for the next five years. 

Amidst the ballyhoo of election season, as Delhi wakes up to vote for Lok Sabha Elections 2014, it will have a precedent to uphold  given that the national capital set a record when 66 per cent of around 1.2 crore voters exercised their franchise in the 

Assembly elections in December 2013

 

In the run-up to April 10, while a slew of reports hinted at low voter turnout owing to holidays such as Ram Navmi and Ambedkar Jayanti, an Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) survey paints another picture when it states, “Over 69 per cent of Delhiites have postponed or rescheduled their long extended weekend plans on 8-13 April due to ‘polling day’ on April 10.” 

Ahead of the election day Metrolife speaks to first-time voters to gauge their interest in the current election season. 

 

“Put me in a traffic jam, or throw me out of the city, I will still find my way to the polling booth and cast my vote,” says Abhishek Das, rather enthusiastically as he revs up to vote for the first time in his life.

A first year BA student of Deshbandhu College, Abhishek, an AAP supporter, shares, “I downloaded Form 6, two months ago to get listed on the electoral rolls. I have been all the more excited about voting, ever since. I think even those voters who have lost faith in any of the available alternatives, should go and cast their vote, as NOTA gives us that privilege.” 

 

Mehak Sharma, a PR executive affirms, “My friends did leave for short trips to Rishikesh and Mussoorie, but only on Ram Navmi. However, most of them are outstationed voters, they will cast their votes in their states, hopefully. I believe that the AAP wave is losing its force, as compared to what it was back in the Assembly elections. Thus, the excitement among us too has also taken a dip. NOTA seems like the right option for now.”

Bharati Ratawal, a student of fashion designing, vents her confusion, saying, “Going by Gujarat’s development, I might have a subconscious inclination for Modi and the BJP, but I am still in two minds as to who I should vote for.” 

 

She admits, “My family are staunch BJP loyalists but my decision is not influenced by that. I am not happy about the fact that AAP which was fundamentally against Congress, took its support to form the Government in Delhi. Perhaps, I will take my final decision only at the last hour.” 

 

Did the holiday season affect her or her friends itinerary? 

 

“How can you treat such an important day like another holiday?

For families or professionals, may be it is time to take a break from their busy schedules, but there’s no way holidays around election can entice us students into turning them into vacations,” she says forcefully.

 

Assocham’s survey also confirms, “Nearly 61 per cent of the Delhi tour operators also said, this year, the rush during long weekend is grim as compared to other extended weekends.”