First-time voters rely on social media for selecting candidate

Parvesh Sharma
Tribune News Service
Sangrur, April 19

Driven by social media, first-time voters are unwilling to listen even to their parents and other family members for the selection of their candidates for the forthcoming General Election. Majority of first-time voters are relying on social media to select their candidate, while there are few, who are reading newspaper and magazines to analyse performance of candidates.

Figures show that in the Sangrur parliamentary constituency, which is spread across two districts of Sangrur and Barnala and nine Assembly constituencies, this time around 77,000 voters are first timers. During interaction with new voters, it has come to light that there are multiple factors responsible for pushing the new voters towards social media.

“My father is in the Punjab Police, mother is a teacher and I am the only son of my parents. My grandparents live in our ancestral village, while in my circle, none likes to discuss politics. Being a new voter, I am very excited, but want to cast my vote as per my choice. I am utilising almost all social media tools to finalise candidate,” said Kulwinder, a student of local Government Ranbir College.

Majority of new voters are also aware of the fake news spread over social media. They said they know how to differentiate between fake and true news.

“I have accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. I am member of many WhatsApp groups also. I do not see any need of taking any feedback from my parents or from any other person to select my candidate,” said Rajesh, another student of Sunam college.

But there are still a few who are taking the help of newspapers, watching TV and keeping themselves updated.

“I do read newspapers and keep checking current affairs and performance of all candidates. I will make up my mind after analysing the performance of all candidates,” said Gysena Anand, a first-time voter and a LLB student.

Her mother Shelly Anand says she will never interfere and allow her daughter to select her candidate.