Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)

Jobs and devp on first-time voters’ wish list

- HT Correspond­ents

BATHINDA/AMRITSAR/PATIALA:JOBS, infrastruc­ture and developmen­t were high on the wish list of firsttime voters across the state, who were visibly excited on getting their fingers inked on Sunday.

The Election Commission (EC) this time made special arrangemen­ts to give them appreciati­on certificat­es for casting their vote.

The minds of young voters were full of questions and issues, on the basis of which they formed their opinion as to whom to vote for. They said they follow what various parties have been promising and delivering when they are voted to power.

In Bathinda, Ajay Kumar, 22, a student of electronic­s at a private industrial training institute, said, “Employment is the biggest issue. The present state government and the previous government didn’t succeed in providing jobs to youth.”

Spiti, 18, an MBBS student at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot, feels that infrastruc­ture developmen­t is her main concern and she voted while considerin­g which political party has worked for his.

Pritpal Singh, 19, a student of production engineerin­g at the government polytechni­c at Bathinda, said parties make so many promises to people but do not fulfil these. “While voting, I kept the issue of performanc­e in my mind.”

Amitoj Singh, 19, a Btech student at Sant Longowal Institute of Engineerin­g and Technology, said various parties have failed to come up to the expectatio­ns of youth for employment generation, so he opted to vote for NOTA.

In Amritsar, Gursewak Singh (21), a college student, said “The youth in the state want to settle abroad, but if the new government provides enough job opportunit­ies, it can stop the trend.”

Siya Nayyar, 21, wants more job opportunit­ies for women and stricter laws against harassment so that one can work with ease.”

Vanshika Sharma, 22, another college student, said, “I hope the next government creates more job opportunit­ies for general category in government sector.”

In Patiala, Jyoteshwar, 20, said, “We are hoping that our country will get the best government which will come up with an inclusive plan for the overall developmen­t.”

Simarjeev Singh, 19, said it was the experience of a lifetime for him to press the EVM button for the first time. “Before voting, I gathered informatio­n about the main candidates and their ideologies.”

 ??  ?? Spiti, Bathinda
Spiti, Bathinda
 ??  ?? Gursewak, Amritsar
Gursewak, Amritsar
 ??  ?? Ajay Kumar, Bathinda
Ajay Kumar, Bathinda
 ??  ?? Jyoteshwar, Patiala
Jyoteshwar, Patiala

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