India's Gen Z voters seek jobs, harmony in world's biggest election

Roushan Kumar, 20, a flower seller and first-time voter, poses for a photograph at a market area ahead of India's general election, in Kolkata, India, April 3, 2024. \"There is a massive difference and change (since my parents were my age). During their time, there was no development,\" said Roushan Kumar during an interview with Reuters. \"Before, our home was in a slum, and now we all have a house; we did not have water, and now every house has a tap.\" REUTERS/Sahiba Chawdhary/File Photo

Akansha Majumdar, 20, a student and first-time voter, poses for a photograph inside Jadavpur University campus ahead of India's general elections, in Kolkata, India, April 2, 2024. \"I hope that basic education is provided for all. There are more slums in the cities than there are in villages, and children as old as seven or eight years of age are forced to leave schools and their education to find jobs to feed themselves and their families,\" said Akansha Majumdar during an interview with Reuters. \"Our government needs to help provide basic education to all, no one should be illiterate for life.\" REUTERS/Sahiba Chawdhary/File Photo

Mohammad Ajaz Ansari, 19, a laptop repairer and first-time voter, poses for a photograph outside a repair shop ahead of India's general election, in New Delhi, India, April 10, 2024. \"There are so many unemployed people. Many people in my locality keep asking for work, but they don't get any. They work for private firms for a meagre amount of 10,000 -12,000 rupees (per month) (119 – 143USD) , which is not enough for a household to survive,\" said Mohammad Aijaz Ansari during an interview with Reuters. REUTERS/Priyanshu Singh/File Photo

Poonam, 22, a housewife and first-time voter, holds her son as she poses for a photograph inside her house ahead of India's general election, in New Delhi, India, April 8, 2024. \"I am happy that I will be voting for the time but not excited as such. I am a housewife and live here on Yamuna flood-pan, I am not very up to date with the current situation,\" said Poonam during an interview with Reuters. \"I will follow my family … I can’t go against my family if they are voting for a particular party or person, I will vote for the same.\" REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

Katravath Santosh, 21, an autorickshaw driver and first-time voter, poses for a photograph with his vehicle alongside a road, ahead of India's general election, in Hyderabad, India, April 14, 2024. \"Life was better in the earlier government's term, our livelihood has been impacted. I have studied until 10th standard only, I had to drop out to support my family financially,\" said Katravath Santosh during an interview with Reuters. \"After moving to the city, we are drowning in loans, we were confident we would somehow survive, but we are so sceptical of our futures now\" REUTERS/Almaas Masood

Saneja Wangjan, 20, a student and first-timer voter, poses for a photograph ahead of India's general election, in Imphal, Manipur, India, April 9, 2024. \"Medical facilities need to improve, especially in smaller underdeveloped cities of India,\" said Saneja Wangjan during an interview with Reuters. \"Many people are dying from common diseases because they have no access to proper medication or hospitals.\" REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas

Meet Khatri, 19, a student and first-time voter, poses as he sits at the entrance of his house, ahead of India's general election, in Ahmedabad, India, April 3, 2024. \"I must go cast my vote, this is my first time voting and I will motivate my friends and my neighbours to vote too. Our country is democratic country and for that I feel proud,\" said Meet Khatri during an interview with Reuters. \"I'm thinking of voting BJP, they have done good work in both the rural and urban areas after they came to power.\" REUTERS/Amit Dave

Dhriti Jain, 21, a student and first-time voter, poses for a photograph inside the Jamia Millia Islamia university campus, ahead of India's general election, in New Delhi, India, April 9, 2024. \"I think one major hope for India would be being more socially progressive, which covers a more holistic approach towards economy and societal problems,\" said Dhriti Jain during an interview with Reuters. \"As a Gen-Z, I want my country to be global but not copy the West; transcending towards a more solid global position, writing our own path.\" REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis

Rohit Tiwari, 22, a mobile phone repairer and first-time voter, poses for a photograph outside a repair shop ahead of India's general election, in New Delhi, India, April 10, 2024. \"I don’t have any favourite party, but yes, I support BJP (Bhartiya Janta Party) because of the work they are doing for the country. I have not decided yet whom to vote for, but I will look for the candidate in my society and will decide accordingly,\" said Rohit Tiwari during an interview with Reuters. REUTERS/Priyanshu Singh

Sanskar Rai, 21, an intern at a digital media platform and first-time voter, poses for a photograph ahead of India's general election, in Gurugram, India, April 10, 2024. \"We talk about secularism on one hand, and we simultaneously see things happening and people being murdered in the name of religion, it's very disheartening to see this,\" said Sanskar Rai during an interview with Reuters. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis

Abbaas Kashmiri, 23, a student and first-time voter, rows a boat in Dal Lake ahead of India's general election, in Srinagar, April 8, 2024. \"India is getting richer, but the gap between rich and poor is getting bigger. I don't like how public services are being privatised for profit,\" said Abbaas Kashmiri during an interview with Reuters. \"I want a government that helps everyone, not just the rich, and treats everyone fairly. When I vote, I want to make India more fair and inclusive, especially for those who need it most.\" REUTERS/Sharafat Ali

Saima Tabbasum, 22, a student and first-time voter, poses for a photograph in an orchard, ahead of India's general elections, in South Kashmir's Pulwama district, April 7, 2024. \"I'll vote for PDP to protect Muslims' rights, I don't think things are normal, especially when the government stops prayers or arrests leaders,\" said Saima Tabbasum during an interview with Reuters. \"I want the ruling party to explain why they do these things and prove they care about Kashmiri freedom.\" REUTERS/Sharafat Ali

Asma Hamad Shaikh, 23, a teacher and first-time voter, poses for a photograph in Dharavi, ahead of India's general election, in Mumbai, India, April 4, 2024. \"I believe that everyone should be educated, illiteracy should be wiped out completely. I hope with a change of government the caste system can be abolished,\" said Asma Hamad Shaikh during an interview with Reuters. \"I see a lot of fights between Hindus and Muslims, I didn’t see this division growing up. It’s only in the last few years that it is become a lot.\" REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas

Sayed Ali, 24, a brand manager and first-timer voter, poses for a photograph in Dharavi, ahead of India's general election, in Mumbai, India, April 4, 2024. \"I personally plan to vote for BJP as I can see change coming. We are developing as a nation and a superpower on a global scale,\" said Sayed Ali during an interview with Reuters. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas

Omprakash Aggarwal, 18, a skater and first-time voter, poses for a photograph as he takes a break from skating, ahead of India's general election, in New Delhi, India, April 14, 2024. \"I think we should give a vote to Modi Ji, he has done a lot of things and brought many new schemes,\" said Omprakash Aggarwal during an interview with Reuters. \"Before, we didn't have any value in foreign countries, but now everyone treats us respectfully.\" REUTERS/Priyanshu Singh

Nikhita Donthula, 21, a student and first-time voter, poses for a photograph at the south campus of Hyderabad Central university, ahead of India's general election, in Hyderabad, India, April 14, 2024. \"I plan to vote for BJP because it has made things convenient and easier for me. Technologically we've made significant developments, and our passport has become stronger now,\" said Nikhita Donthula during an interview with Reuters. \"The way Indians are looked at outside the country has changed, it has become smoother to settle abroad.\" REUTERS/Almaas Masood

Updated

Published

Apr 17, 2024, 06:10 PM

KOLKATA/NEW DELHI - For 20-year-old Roushan Kumar, who sells flowers for a living in India's eastern state of West Bengal, more jobs and better education are priorities. And the first-time voter wants to pick a government that will provide just that.

India's election starting on Friday is the world's largest electoral exercise with more than 18 million people voting for the first time.

While polls project Prime Minister Narendra Modi will win a third term, new voters like Kumar are determined to make their voices count.

"I will vote for a party that works for development in education. I will vote for a party that will provide employment – so that there are jobs," Kumar, a Modi supporter, told Reuters.

Kumar's priorities match many his age. Rising tensions between religious groups, inflation and lack of jobs were the top concerns emerging from Modi's decade-long rule, according to a survey of 1,290 first-time voters in New Delhi by pollsters CSDS-Lokniti.

Nearly two-thirds of those polled said they would vote for Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party given the government's strong record of economic growth, amid a sense of pride over construction of a massive Hindu temple.

Despite world-beating growth, India's economy has scrambled to generate enough work for its people. Its youth make for most of the nation's unemployed workforce, according to a report by the International Labour Organisation and Institute for Human Development.

Akansha Majumdar, a 20-year-old engineering student in West Bengal's said India's government needs to eradicate illiteracy and provide job security.

To tap into such disenchantment, India's main opposition Congress has promised paid apprenticeships. Modi's party manifesto also focuses on creating jobs.

Beyond jobs and rising costs, communal harmony is another priority for many young voters.

Delhi-based laptop repairer Mohammad Aijaz Ansari, 19, said fighting in the "name of religion" is everywhere and should not happen. He will vote for the Aam Aadmi Party, or Common Person's Party, a Congress ally.

In reports released last year, the U.S. State Department raised concerns over the treatment of Muslims and other religious minorities in India. Modi denies discriminating against minorities. REUTERS

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India's Gen Z voters seek jobs, harmony in world's biggest election

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