Kochi: Despite the drizzle playing a spoilsport on Monday morning, Kerala witnessed high turn up of youngsters in the Assembly Election. The young Keralites were all excited to cast their vote and some had even travelled from distant hostels to exercise their precious right.
Many youngsters had a firm view, ideology and knowledge as to whom to support. Some came in the early morning itself as they had other plans for the latter part of the day. Many of the first-time voters were accompanied by their family while many others were in a rush to speedily end the whole thing and to proceed for their routine jobs. While most youngsters preferred a party that was corruption-free many others felt the need for a party that was welcoming to the youngsters.
"We welcome new voices, for they can bring about changes in society,” Antony Varkey, an engineering student from Kottayam, said. “What's the purpose of voting if you cast your vote as a NOTA?”he had some novel ideas about the use of vote as a tool. “If you are against a particular candidate vote for his opponent as that would reduce his chances of winning," he said.
“Election is very important,” said Sojov George, an arts student from Kothamangalam. “Your vote is your only say in a democracy. It doesn't matter whether you cast a NOTA or not but what matters is that one should not keep himself away from elections."
One must never refrain from voting as it leaves a space for the undeserving candidate to get elected, he pointed out. NOTA is never a good option as the majority candidate wins even if NOTA has the majority, said Kalyani Santosh, a degree student from Ernakulam. "I am least concerned about the candidate. I vote for the candidate of the party which I support.”
There were many youngsters who stayed back from voting, too. “Nothing is going to change even if we vote or not,” said freelance artist Shanoon P.B. Many others had come just to witness and experience the whole thing. “I just wanted to know how it feels like. I support the party that my family supports,” said Shruthy Vargheese, a school student.
The social media also went alive with selfies and groupfies taken at polling booths. The heated debates and discussions as to who will win also run wild in the social media platform.
