The generation Z is eyeing the 2019 general elections as an opportunity to send their message to the politicians, that is, more job creation work.
Not less than 130 million first-time voters, which if counted would be more than that of Japan’s general population, will be exercising their right to vote in the forthcoming elections due to be held in May 2019. The main issue that the youths were delivered as promised was the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of creating 10 million jobs per year. The pledge earned him the votes of youths of India in the earlier 2014 elections.
And now the country has got barely eight months to start the national elections, and thus voters who think that the biggest failure of PM Modi’s government is inability to create the jobs as promised and the percentage for that has risen to 29 from 22 in January 2018, according to the Mood of the Nation survey by Indian Today.
“The youth will certainly be a key demographic,” said Harsh Pant, professor of International Relations at King’s College in London. “While the issue of jobs may hurt PM Modi in the coming elections, it is also a reality he remains hugely popular with the youth compared to any other politician.”
The main issue to be resolved for the young Indians is the employment, as per the 2016 survey of more than 6,100 respondents conducted by Centre for the Study of Developing Societies and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. When sought to disclose the most important issue India is facing, 18 percent said that jobs and unemployment were the main issues to resolved and about 12 percent said that economic inequality and nine percent said corruption.
As there are no data records to show how many jobs were created during PM Modi’s term in the Central government, it’s quite impossible to say the total number of jobs created. But despite that, the administration is trying to highlight its efforts made to provide skill training, loans, and startup encouragement schemes to the youths. As per the latest figures received from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy shows that the unemployment rate in August was about 6.32 percent, which is the highest in at least a year.
“Getting a job has become next to impossible, as for each post hundreds of candidates are trying their luck,” said Mr. Shukla, 22, who came to Delhi after completing his Bachelor of Technology degree from a college in Uttar Pradesh. “I am desperately waiting for an improvement in employment situation. My vote will go to the party that will sincerely promise to change the current job situation.”
But despite all that, the ruling party at the Centre believes that young voters look at the PM Modi’s government as their future and the country’s future, said Harsh Sanghavi, vice president of the youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The Congress party, is the main opposition, is trying to find this opportunity to raise its voice against unemployment and rising social tensions in the country.
“Young people are upset with the government over the lack of jobs, the rise of intolerance and spread of hatred. They faced the reality and now want a change,” said Srinivas BV, vice president of the Indian Youth Congress. “We are approaching them even at the village level — we are grooming young leaders to strengthen our base.”
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