India's main opposition party, Congress, on Thursday embarked on a campaign to attract younger-generation, first-time voters to cast their ballots on 10 May, Election Day for the Karnataka Legislative Assembly polls.
“As the opposition party, it is our responsibility to create awareness among the youth, especially first-time voters, about crucial problems like unemployment and inflation in the State. It is time to bring about a change in the State,” M. S. Raksha Ramaiah, General Secretary of the National Youth Congress told reporters.
"Lack of interest and a careless attitude among the youth are the major reasons for poor voting turnout among the youth,” explained Ramaiah, revealing why young people are not interested in voting.
Meanwhile, earlier this week, while addressing a rally in the State, ex-Congress chief Rahul Gandhi announced that if his party returned to power it would give INR 3,000 ($36.50) to every unemployed graduate and INR 1,500 ($18.20) to jobless diploma holders as an allowance.
Gandhi also said that the Congress government would provide employment to one million people. It would include 250,000 vacancies in the government jobs, which would also be filled, he assured.
The Karnataka polls are scheduled to be held on 10 May, and the outcome will be announced on 13 May.