Hyper nationalism grips young voters

As the general elections are approaching, the pertinent question is, what is young India thinking? While the Opposition would like to imagine that the fundamental issues of bread and butter, jobs and freedoms would dominate the young minds, they could be in for a surprise.

According to a recent survey, national security and India's befitting response to Pakistan post the Pulwama terror attack are dominating the conversations among the college-going youth and they love Uri, a Bollywood movie on Indian Army's surgical strike in 2016 post the Uri terror attack.

The Balakot strike by the Indian Air Force post the Pulwama attack is a much-needed "tit for tat", they think.

Poor job scenario, low farm income, agrarian distress and attacks on fundamental rights, the issues not in favour of the BJP, don't seem to resonate much with the youth. They could, though, be latent issues.

With hyper nationalism post Pulwama and Balakot being the sole visible common thread binding conversations among the youth, it remains to be seen if the BJP will retain its young support base in the 2019 LS polls. If yes, to what extent.

Ramya D, Khammam