On April 11, 2019, as the Lok Sabha elections commenced, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his first tweet of the day, urged first-time voters to vote in large numbers. In 2019, there were 8.4 crore first-time voters-a decisive and, largely, enthusiastic constituency. To put this number into context, the BJP got 22.9 crore votes, while the Congress got 11.9 crore. So, the party getting the bulk of first-time votes will be well-poised to rule India.
Modi has this constituency in mind for the 2024 elections, too. Those turning 18 in January 2024 will be eligible to vote, and he has been arduously wooing them with events like Pariksha Pe Charcha. This is also the age group that would be the most aspirational. India is set to become the most populous country and the number of first-time voters in 2024 is likely to surpass the 2019 figure.
But, there is a catch. These first-time voters may not remember the UPA government or its policy paralysis against which the BJP often rails. Therefore, the BJP will engage with the 18-25 age group throughout the year to remind them of those days.
It is a learning from the party's experience in Bihar in 2020. BJP ally Nitish Kumar of the Janata Dal (United) had already ruled the state for 15 years by then and not many remembered the 'jungle raj' of Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad. His son Tejashwi Yadav was careful not to invoke his father's name too much. As a result, the RJD emerged as the single largest party, though the BJP and JD(U) went on to form the government.
This story is from the January 29, 2023 edition of THE WEEK India.
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This story is from the January 29, 2023 edition of THE WEEK India.
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