Debutant voters give poll wish list -- farmers, women, jobs, freedom of expression

Young and restless, anxious and ambitious, first time voters in urban India are going into this election with a clear vision for the country's future and say they expect political leaders to focus on "real issues" such as jobs, women's safety and farmer distress.

They may be disparate in their life goals and choices of career but are one in reflecting the angst of the young and their hopes for a better tomorrow, many of them saying the country's resources and energies must not be spent on things like monuments and statues.

At the cusp of their careers, many youth, from Haryana to Karnataka, also express their apprehensions about expressing themselves freely in public or on social media and want future lawmakers to change the narrative.

According to the Election Commission, 1.5 crore "young voters" in the 18-19 age group will exercise their franchise for the first time in the upcoming elections being held from April 11 to May 19.

One debutant voter is 20-year-old Kanika, an English Honours student at Delhi University's Miranda House.

"As youth, we are all concerned about jobs. The political leaders and lawmakers we elect should work on improving the employment scenario."
Madhumitha said cases of trolling and backlashes have made her hesitant about expressing her opinions on public issues on social media. "I am always half-afraid... fearful at the thought that there might be repercussions."
A Kashmiri student from Pulwama, who studies at a leading university in Delhi, said on condition of anonymity, "We all want peace and harmony, as the youth of Kashmir and of this country. For me, education and healthcare are two main factors, because jobs come only if we are educated and healthy."
According to Bengaluru-resident Bilal Shariff, "Political leaders and lawmakers must focus on real issues instead of using caste and creed planks to trigger emotional frenzy among people to garner votes."