10 per cent quota with eye on 10 crore first-time voters

Hyderabad: There will be over 10 crore first-time voters in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, of which 4 crore voters aged between 18 and 19 have registered with the Election Commission.

The BJP’s electoral master stroke of 10 per cent quota for economically weaker sections is said to be directed at this segment. Surveys say a huge per cent of these first-time voters are staunch BJP supporters.

These first-time voters are more educated, tech-savvy and better informed. Most are driven by social media platforms and act like opinion-makers or influencers, says a study on behavioural aspect of young voters.

According to a research paper titled “The youth vote made a difference for the victory of the BJP”, the BJP’s vote share among young voters in 2014 was 34.4 per cent, three percentage points higher than its average vote share of 31.1 per cent.

Former vice-president of the JNU students’ union Ms Shehla Rashid said, “The attempt is a replica of what the Congress did ahead of the 2014 elections. The party proposed for Jat reservation, which didn’t turn real. Reservation for jobs and education are not poverty-elevation measure but are given on social economical scale. The BJP is doing this to please the upper caste youth, since there is tremendous resentment among the SC/ST, who won’t support them.”

The BJP has already completed consolidation of its vote banks and this move is to please their young supporters. The move will assure the party a certain percentage of votes.

Political analyst Prof. Sathyaraj called the development a bid to divert the nation’s attention from scams. “Months before the summer elections, the BJP has already tapped first-time voters. The party’s youth wing has launched ‘Pehla Vote Modi Ko’ ( first vote to Modi ) campaign. If the 10 per cent reservation becomes a reality, the party will be seen thumping its chests saying they have secured the future of the young Indian.”

He further said, “The development is also aimed at triggering debates in order to divert the nation’s attention from the Rafale scam. The government wants to portray that we want to do good, but the opposition is blocking vikas.”

But, earlier attempts by the government, like reduction in funding for education, has already set the agenda among young non-BJP supporters and may not help the BJP get votes.

Former JNU student Mr. Umar Khalid said, “A section of the young Indians are fed up. The government cut down budget on education and reduced scholarship fees. Young India wants dignified jobs and lifestyle but the fact remains that there are no jobs. This stroke might defuse before the elections.”

Going by the 2011 Census data, around 2 crore youngsters turn 18 every year. Not everyone gets registered with the Election Commission, but that is something no political party can afford to ignore.