Their day of empowerment

It was a day of empowerment for the first-time voters when they came out of the polling booths with ink mark on their index finger. Usually late risers, young voters left their beds early – that too on a Sunday — to strengthen democracy as Lucknow went to polls in the fourth phase.

It was a day of empowerment for the first-time voters when they came out of the polling booths with ink mark on their index finger. Usually late risers, young voters left their beds early – that too on a Sunday — to strengthen democracy as Lucknow went to polls in the fourth phase.

Voters-display-their-identity-cards-as-they-wait-to-cast-votes-at-a-polling-station-during-4th-phase-of-Uttar-Pradesh-assembly-elections-in-Hardoi-PTI-Photo

HT interacted with several first-time voters to know what was the driving force that brought them to the polling booths.

After casting her vote at Scholar’s Home in Gomti Nagar, Anjori Khanna, 20, came out with a sense of pride. “I voted in the name of development and with a sense of responsibility, hoping that the candidate takes the state on the path of development,” she said.

Arushi Mittal, 18, of Loreto Convent who wants to be a politician later, said: “I’m keen to join a political party of my choice to fulfill my aspirations.” She cast her vote at Red Hill School in Gokhale Marg.

Varun Rastogi 22, another first-time voter, said: “ I expect that my MLA should work on his constituency and should have a conscience as to not get engaged in the wrongdoings.”

Pragya Awasthi, another first-timer, said: “I voted because the democracy can only work if its citizens are active participants.”

Nashat, 20, however, had a tough time. “Choosing the party for whom I wanted to vote was a difficult choice, as I had very little information about the candidates from my area. In the end, I voted for the party that took up development as their primary aim,” she said.