Nalgonda: In the upcoming elections, the electoral sway in the former Nalgonda district may significantly rest with younger voters. Those aged between 18 and 39 years form a considerable majority, representing over half of the electorate across 12 assembly constituencies.
Political parties are busy in devising strategies to appeal to this demographic. Noticeably during the last Ganesh festival, party leaders donated money for buying idols to youth-led pandals, indicating a blend of cultural engagement and electoral politics.
Considering the fact these youngsters are hooked to social media platforms, candidates from different political parties have enlisted digital experts to design and disseminate campaign material across various platforms, including WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. Additionally, they are leveraging influencers with substantial social media following to amplify their reach.
If one were to look at the voters statistics, 54.2% of the electorate are in the age group of 18-39 years (7,51,513 voters) in six Nalgonda constituencies, namely Nalgonda, Miryalaguda, Munugode, Nagarjuna Sagar, Devarakonda, and Nakrekal individuals. Of these, 2.9% or 41,378 voters, are set to cast their ballots for the first time.
Suryapet district reports a similar trend with young voters accounting for 50.72% of its electorate across four constituencies: Suryapet, Huzurnagar, Kodad, and Thungathurthi. First-time voters here number 30,354, making up 3.1% of the total voting population.
In the Yadadri-Bhongir district, the Bhongir and Alair constituencies report 51.21% of their electorate, or 2,24,879 individuals, as being under 39 years of age. To ensure robust participation, election authorities have embarked on a campaign to instill the significance of voting in the democratic process, targeting first-time voters.
As the polling date of November 30 approaches, their initiatives are crucial in mobilizing this significant electoral segment.