May 10th, 2024.
The D-day.
The day when my biggest dream came true.
The day when I got my right to exercise my power of being a part of a democratic country.
The day when I got my "RIGHT TO VOTE."
I have been an ardent follower of Indian politics and throughout my 19 years of life, I've gotten to read and witness the different ideologies of political parties, the way matters of the country are looked at and the way things are rapidly changing due to surge of AI. (iykyk)
It has been quite an interesting phase for me as I've gotten to see both sides of the coin- how through the passage of time certain great leaders evolved and sustained due to wise decisions while a few completely withered away. The wide spectrum of people with diverse thoughts that we get to witness in Indian politics is truly fascinating!
They say democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The USP of a democratic nation lies in the fact that people are the choosers. The drawback? People are the choosers.
The citizens of the country have the right to either give power to someone or to completely strip them off it. With great power comes great responsibility and with a responsibility as big as that of electing someone who would be in power for 5 years, lots of caution needs to be exercised before casting a vote. There needs to be lots of thinking, analyzing and understanding as to what the best option for our country's progress would be. Is the same amount of effort being put in by each and every voter in this country? Sadly, the answer is no.
Despite having a country with the youth constituting the major population, it is disheartening to see such a small percentage of voter turnout during elections. It is even more disheartening to see all the educated people taking a backseat and not casting their vote. Since most of the times we have elections conducted during the weekends and with the election day being a holiday, people are prioritizing their personal work over any other activities, thus sabotaging the country's future.
Every election is dependent on the people who show up. Every vote counts. Please vote for the person whom you think will bring a fresh approach to the table to tackle the current set of problems being faced. Please don't come under the influence of external factors and vote irrationally. Take your responsibility seriously and be the change you wish to see.
As a first-time voter, I will be casting my vote on the 13th of May and exercise my most important right and take part in this privilege of being a citizen of a democratic country. What about you?
JAI HIND!!
- Anusha Sridhar
