Bengaluru: Nationalism and patriotism top the agenda of young voters in Mandya constituency this Lok Sabha poll, stoked by the country's retaliatory air strikes against Pakistan post Pulwama.
Popularly known as the sugar bowl of South Karnataka, Mandya no longer resembles a village headquarters with its shopping malls, engineering and medical colleges and showrooms of national and international brands that have changed the lifestyle of its people. Students from across India are now pursuing higher studies here and people from other states have moved to the city giving it a cosmopolitan feel. Like their lifestyle, the people's political views too have undergone a sea change. An indication was the 2.44 lakh votes that the BJP secured in the Mandya LS byelection in November last year although the constituency is seen as a stronghold of the Janata Dal (Secular).
With more exposure to the world, those who never thought beyond the state, are now discussing the policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former President of the United States, Obama. This time as many as 22,478 first time voters have enrolled for the coming Lok, Sabha poll and they are keen to have their voice heard. Mr Anil Kumar, an engineering student, has no qualms in admitting that he will vote for Mr Modi on April 18. "Of course, I know Modi is not contesting from Mandya, but every vote given to the BJP will return him to power. The recent surgical strike on terror camps on Pakistan soil shows that India needs a strong leader like him. I saw Uri ten times and will vote for any candidate fielded by the BJP," he says.
A medical student , Pooja S, believes that had the Congress addressed the problems of unemployment, farmers, Kashmir and poverty over the last 60 years, India would have flourished by now. "I am fed up with Congress president, Rahul Gandhi talking about the Rafale deal and Indian businessman. My vote is for Modi who has a vision for India," she says firmly.
But Mr Nagaraj Gowda, a B.com student in a government degree college, is a hardcore fan of the late actor/politician, M H Ambareesh and has no doubt who his vote will go to. "Our anna would have given a strong fight to his rival had he lived. His wife, Sumalatha madam is contesting against Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of the CM. I think the people of Mandya will vote for her. I would have voted for Nikhil had Sumalatha madam not contested, but my vote is for our Mandyada Gandu ambiyanna," he says.
Ms Susheela, a BA student of the government college for women, is upset that when heads of other countries respect Mr Modi, the Congress president has no respect for him. "I feel one more chance should be given to Modi to complete his agenda of development," she contends.
Says another student, Sridhar Suresh from Maharashtra, who is studying in an engineering college in Mandya, "Patriotism is in our blood thanks to Shivaji Maharaj. Modi may have failed to solve unemployment, farmers woes, problems of industries and introduced demonetisation, but he helped us become patriots when Pakistan trained terrorists were snubbed by our Indian Air force. Now our icons are Narendra Modi and Wing Commander, Abhinandan. My support is for desh bhakths and not gaddars."
