For young voters in Uttar Pradesh, it was the factors concerning their own future that have played a decisive role more than caste considerations along with a firm determination to vote out the BSP.
In voting the Samajwadi Party to a near majority in these elections, the young voters have shown that they prefer parties that offer a future for them.
The SP manifesto that promises, jobs, unemployment allowances, laptops, tablets, loans for the youth has something for everyone who is on the verge of a new career, a new life.
There are jobs for the educated youth, unemployment allowance for the unemployed youth, laptops and tablets for those who are studying, scholarship for girls who want to opt for higher education and loans for those who wish to start their own business.
It was this that lured the youth to the SP whereas the Congress failed to inform the youth of its promises in the manifesto.
Congress leaders, in their speech, followed Mr Rahul Gandhi’s line and spoke of schemes like MNREGA that are rural-centric. For the urban youth, the Congress had nothing to offer, nothing to say. The SP has, undoubtedly, got maximum youth voters, cutting across caste lines and the rural-urban divide.
The young voters in upper castes, dalits, Muslims and other sections voted for the manifesto of the SP.
Says Sailesh Agarwal, a young MBA graduate, “My friends and I voted for the Samajwadi Party because their manifesto has something for me even before I get a job — the unemployment allowance. Other parties are offering us opportunities that will take years to become a reality. If there is industrialisation, it will take years before the industry comes up and gives us jobs. The SP manifesto gives us something right away.”