Editorial With Sujit Nair | Are Indian Voters Pessimistic About 2024 Elections?

HW News Editorial with Sujit Nair

In this edition of 'Editorial,' Mr. Sujit Nair delves into the mood of Indian voters leading up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Urban Indians exhibit a keen interest in participating in the imminent Lok Sabha polls but harbor pessimism regarding critical issues, notably citing unemployment as their primary concern. The government's Covid-19 vaccination drive is perceived as a significant accomplishment. According to the latest YouGov-Mint-CPR Millennial Survey conducted in December, a noteworthy 79% of urban Indians express their intention to vote in the upcoming elections. However, the survey findings reveal subdued expectations among respondents. Only 31% anticipate an improvement in communal relations over the next five years, while merely 38% foresee a reduction in poverty levels. Additionally, 43% express optimism about improved job prospects for young Indians by 2029. Notably, respondents who identified as Muslim (constituting 12% of the sample) were more inclined to predict enhanced communal relations within five years (42%) compared to Hindu respondents (31%). The survey also sought opinions on the current government's accomplishments, with India's Covid-19 vaccination drive emerging as the most recognized achievement. Among the respondents, 43% ranked the vaccination drive among the top three achievements from a list that could be perceived positively by supporters of the ruling party.