Development, jobs key concerns for first-time voters

Guwahati: For most first-time voters this time, development and employment are primary concerns. And when Assam goes to the polls on Monday, they will make their decisions on the basis of candidates and not parties.
“It’s the issue of employment I will keep in mind while casting the vote for the first time in my life. Solving unemployment will solve other problems.Besides, there are issues like infiltration and floods which, I think, the government should finally pay attention to,” said Kapil Roy, who hails from Dhubri district’s Gauripur constituency. The 21-year-old student of Pramathesh Barua College said he will choose candidates, not parties.
Arnuv Bhardwaj of B Borooah College will be voting for the second time. “I think I voted for the right person during the 2014 Lok Sabha election,” he said. For him, the deciding factor is development. “I want to see a developed country,” said Bhardwaj of Dispur constituency.
For Sanghamitra Goswami, a journalism student, employment is a major concern. “I feel there should be proper higher education facilities in specialized areas in Guwahati. The government should also focus on ensuring women’s security. Finally, sanitation is another neglected area which deserves some attention,” said Goswami, who will cast her vote for the first time this election.
Eni Saikia, a 21-year-old student, will be voting to wipe out corruption. “The cause of underdevelopment is corruption. The next government should work for the welfare of the people. Price rise is making our lives miserable and has to be controlled. The education sector in the state also needs improvement,” said Saikia.
Assam has 1.98 crore voters, of which 93 lakh are women. The Lok Sabha election in 2014 saw 79.88% turnout. The voter turnout in the last assembly election in 2011 was 75.92%. Altogether, 6.76 lakh new voters will exercise their franchise this time.