Delhi’s young set to flex their vote muscle

Delhi’s young voters are kicked about the idea of using their franchise in the April 15 MCD polls, with a survey predicting a healthy turnout of voters aged between 18 and 29 years. HT reports.

Delhi’s young voters are kicked about the idea of using their franchise in the April 15 MCD polls, with a survey predicting a healthy turnout of voters aged between 18 and 29 years.

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The survey has also predicted that the youth in east Delhi would participate more actively in the polls than their brethren from the posh South Delhi. The survey, conducted by the industry body Assocham, found that while 80 per cent of youth in east Delhi and 70 per cent of youth in Civil Lines said they would exercise their franchise, only 24 per cent of respondents in south Delhi’s posh colonies such as Hauz Khas and Vasant Kunj and 30 per cent in central Delhi promised to vote.

There was a mixed response from respondents residing in areas such as Rohini, Sadar, Paharganj, Najafgarh and Narela.

“Constant campaigns to inform and raise awareness amid people about their right and importance of their vote by the State Election Commission and Election Commission of India seems to have a significant impression on young Indian middle class,” said DS Rawat, secretary general, Assocham, while releasing the findings of the survey.

The Assocham carried out the survey under the aegis of Assocham Social Development Foundation (ASDF) at all the 12 MCD zones and interviewed about 600 young adults (50 in each zone). The sample included almost an equal number of male and female respondents.

Most of the respondents said they are constantly exchanging notes about the candidates through SMS, emails and over social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter.