First-timers display enthusiasm in third phase

Enthusiasm could be seen on the faces of first time voters at polling booths here on Thursday. They had been reading news reports and watching television channels for some months and finally cast their votes.

Enthusiasm could be seen on the faces of first time voters at polling booths here on Thursday. They had been reading news reports and watching television channels for some months and finally cast their votes.

First-time-voters-turned-up-in-large-numbers-to-the-polling-booths-in-Jharkhand-for-in-the-third-phase-of-polling-on-Thursday-HT-Photo

Polling day was like a festival for the Kesharis. Kunal Kumar Keshari, 23, resident of Adarsh Nagar, his two sisters Priyanka Keshari, 20, and Sweety Keshari, 18, queued up outside their booth at Aggarsen Bhawan Hirapur at 7 am. When asked, they said they had never seen Electronic Voting Machines and were excited about casting their votes. “I am excited at the thought that I have the right to choose the MPs and the government,” said Sweety Keshari.

Later, Sweety said she did not take an interest in politics earlier, but after her name was put in the voters’ list, she started reading newspapers and watched television to know about candidates.

“Earlier I couldn’t decide whom I should vote for, but after going through daily news, I was able to vote today,” she said. Her brother Kunal Keshari said the main issues were corruption, unemployment, terrorism, Maoist violence, price rise, unity and integrity of the nation. He said he voted for the party which can solve these problems.