Apathy towards politics & anti-incumbency led to drop in voting among young adults
Sunday, 21 April 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Various factors including apathy towards politics, indifference and anti-incumbency influenced young adults into abstaining from voting in the Lok Sabha election which was held in Uttarakhand on April 19. The voter turnout was notably low on the polling day. In light of this, the young adults in the city opined that none of the political parties in power genuinely serve the public’s interests, which indirectly led to their decision to abstain from participating in the voting process on Friday.
Dwelling on this, a college student Shivansh Bhauguna said that he did not visit the polling station to vote in this election. Instead, he spent the day with friends after making plans with them. He emphasised his limited interest in politics, stating that he does not care to keep track of which government comes to power, as every party, once in the role, prioritises its own agenda over the welfare of the general public, he said.
Another young adult Mohammad Ibrahim said that he abstained from the entire election process this year citing his aversion to standing in line to vote and the influence of anti-incumbency. He opined that regardless of which party wins, they will prioritise their own interests over serving society.
Commenting on this, a local resident Rajeev Kumar claimed that the younger generation, particularly young adults, are increasingly well-informed about various matters. He highlighted the significant role they play in the electoral process through their participation in voting. However, it has been noted that this year, young adults have displayed a decreased interest in voting. Factors such as waning interest in politics, anti-incumbency sentiment and primarily, the younger generation’s inclination towards laziness and lack of understanding of their civic responsibilities, have been cited as the key reasons behind their lack of participation in this year’s election, he said.
