Josh was high among first-time voters in Ranchi on vote day Monday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi a clear favourite among youngsters sold on his poll rhetoric as a strong chowkidar to the nation.
At Ranchi parliamentary seat, of the 16.48 lakh eligible voters, 26,956 are first-time voters. Chatting with them revealed most affluent first-time voters cast their franchise for a “warrior” PM, while the local MP of their constituency seemed far from their minds. Poorer first-time voters were grateful for LPG cylinders and toilets at home, as part of the Modi government’s schemes.
From nervousness to confusion on whom to vote to total clarity and confidence about their choice, first-time voters displayed a gamut of reactions. If there was one thing binding them all, it was the jubilation after inking their finger. And yes, the inevitable selfie with the inked finger.
First-time voter Riya Bhattacharji, 21, a student of MSc at Ranchi Women’s College who voted at the polling booth at Gramin Udyamita Vikas Prashikshan Sansthan on Purulia Road, said she double-checked so that she would not press the wrong EVM button. “I minutely checked EVM buttons for candidates and pressed the right button,” she beamed. “When the EVM beeped, it was like music to my ears, historic day,” she beamed, ready with selfie to upload on social media. Who did she vote for? She only said, “The nation needs a strong leader. And there’s no one to challenge Modiji.”
Nineteen-year-old Vishakha, Class XII student, who cast her vote at DAV Nandraj at Booty locality, said, “I cast my vote to salute our brave army personnel who lost their life in Pulwama attack and those who avenged their killing.”
First-time voters from poor homes did not talk about unemployment, economic slowdown or demonetisation. For them, a free LPG connection, a toilet, a house and free medical insurance under Ayushman Bharat scheme was more important.
Farmer’s son Jeevan Kumar,22, of Tatisilway hardly talked about farmer distress or Modi’s promise to double the income of farmers by 2022. “I have given priority to the nation’s security while casting my vote,” he said.
Tribal youth Santosh Tigga, 19, of Samlong, who cast his vote at Assisi High School booth in Samlong, said he confused even when he entered the booth, but then “remembered that my mother cooks on an LPG stove and my family has a toilet too. I just want to repay these”.
Homemaker Sangita Devi, 20, said she was married off at 17 and her education discontinued. A native of Tati village, she nervously asked a lady constable for her voter slip.
“I have a house and a toilet at my in-laws’ home, what else does a poor girl require?” she said when asked who she voted for.
Voices of dissent were few. First-time voter Ruhi Parveen of Angara said communal harmony was the most important thing for India. “There is sense of mistrust all across the country. People are being lynched on mere suspicion. A country can’t progress without communal harmony,” she said.
Undergraduate Alpana Xalxo, 21, of Gossner College, who cast her vote for the first time too, and at the booth that Riya voted in, said she voted for change. “Change is needed in India. We should elect a PM who doesn’t discriminate people based on community and religion. Yes, I have problem with current leadership of the country,” she said.