First-time voters get red roses

PATNA/AURANGABAD: There were a number of enthusiastic first-time voters, who exercised their franchise in Aurangabad, Nawada, Gaya and Jamui constituencies, during Phase I of the Lok Sabha polls on Thursday.
Sharing his experience of casting a vote for the first time, Jamui resident Prashant Kumar said, “You won’t believe me if I tell you I was so excited that I could not sleep last night.I finally get to decide who is good for my nation and who is not through my vote.”
Prashant and many others like him were welcomed with red roses at different polling booths in Jamui. A duty officer told this newspaper, “We are giving away roses to first-time voters to make their experience memorable.”
Surprisingly, many first-time voters, who study outside the state, came home to exercise their franchise. Tarapur resident Anand Raj studies in Kota, but he did not miss the opportunity to cast his vote. He said, “I am big enough to understand the importance of casting votes and choosing the government of my choice.”
Asked if he was influenced by his parents’ choice, Anand answered in the negative. He replied, “Not at all. It was completely my decision.”
Another first-time voter from Aurangabad, Sandhya Kumari, had several issues in mind while exercising her franchise. “I want the elected candidate to focus on proper educational infrastructure, better health care and security of women in the region.”
Rahul Kumar and friends Sanjay and Vinay, all first-time voters from Aurangabad, were seen clicking pictures with their voter identity cards. They asked, “How could we miss the chance of casting votes in favour of the party we support?”
Preeti Kumari was accompanied by her entire family to a polling booth in Aurangabad. “What an experience! Casting a vote for the first time made me realize my importance in the electoral process of the nation,” she said and appealed to all electors to exercise their franchise.
As per data available on the state chief electoral officer’s website, approximately 5.8 lakh voters in 40 constituencies of the state are first-time voters.
Considering their significant number, a number of political leaders have tried to woo first-time voters. RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s younger son and leader of opposition in the assembly, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav had tweeted earlier this week, “First-time voters were fooled in the name of employment generation during the last Lok Sabha elections...”
(With inputs from Premendra Mishra in Aurangabad)