(From left to right) Ryan D’ Costa, Indrani Sarkar, Avijit Mandal, Deepali and Smita Kumari after casting their votes on Friday. Pictures by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, July 1: Enough of tall promises. Now, please walk the talk, netaji.

That’s what GenY, who is clearly not happy with the performance of earlier public representatives, is telling their MP hopeful from Jamshedpur seat.

Despite their busy schedule — many are busy with jobs or are pursuing studies outside the state — the youngsters came to exercise their franchise during the by-election today with the hope of getting a leader, who will fulfil their demands.

On the wish list are better education infrastructure, more job opportunities and above all an improved law and order situation.

“Jamshedpur needs a perfect law and order scenario along with better infrastructure and good institutes. The steel city’s schools are the best. But it’s not enough. We need some good centres of higher education. We have experimented with a number of leaders, but this time I hope we will choose someone who can understand our problems,” said Deepali (30), a social worker with a New Delhi-based NGO who came to the city to just vote.

Like Deepali, Indrani Sarkar, who works in a Calcutta-based television production company, was in the city to choose the right candidate. “My family did not vote in the last parliamentary elections, but this time I made it a point to come and vote for the candidate who I think can usher in change in Jamshedpur. I also made my parents vote. I would like my MP to be educated with a clean image,” said the 27-year-old.

Ryan D’Costa (26), operations manager at Hotel Boulevard, feels that more than the city, it is the rural areas that need to be looked after.

“We have had enough. We have seen politicians come and go without doing much for the poor. People in the rural areas are living under the shadow of Naxalites, not to forget poor infrastructure. I hope the next MP will take up these issues,” said Ryan.

Smita Kumari (28), a radio jockey, and advocate Avijit Mandal are confident that Jamshedpur would get the right neta this time. If Smita wants good educational institutes, Avijit is all for better law and order situation.

“The problem with people here is that they don’t want to vote, but is ready to criticise the government at the drop of a hat. First, people should exercise their voting right,” said Avijit.