The Young Voter Is No Game-changer In Indian Elections

Hope for the future grows high when one thinks of the 149 million young people who will vote for the first time in the forthcoming general elections in 2014. That is a really large number as it exceeds the entire population of Russia.

But a close look at the numbers makes it clear that there is more hype and less hope. For example, in a 2004 election survey, it was revealed that 39% youth were interested in politics. This is not too different from the national average of 38% voters who expressed an interest in politics.

They rarely cast their votes
The youth may be more vocal; they may be better informed than ever before, but going to poll booths and casting their votes seem too much effort. According to surveys, the youth cast 2-4% points less votes than the overall voting population. This figure has been consistent over the last four Lok Sabha elections. So going out and voting are still not the youth thing here.

A new book, due to be out this month, studies youth voting in details. The book called Indian Youth and Electoral Politics: An Emerging Engagement is written by Sanjay Kumar, a professor at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies.

Prof. Kumar told Business Insider, “It’s safe to say that one would be making a mistake if he tries to look at the Youth as a Vote bank. No such thing exists. They just don’t vote as youth. They have remained as divided as others while voting in various elections since 1996 Lok Sabha polls. Youth do not make a political category in India.”

New bottle but old wine
Of course, there are some variations in the youth voting behaviour. For example, the young are voting more for the BJP and the BSP also attracts the first time voters. But statistically speaking, these are insignificant numbers.

The real problem is that youth identify with the same issues that concern their elders. Also, the radical youth who happen to be transformative in a democracy, are absent in India. They are more likely to be happy with the patriarchal social set-up. As far as the young voter is concerned, father knows best – that is if he or she turns up at the polling booth in the first place.