Lok Sabha elections 2019- Unreserved coach to AC bogie: Pictures in contrast

Development, nationalism and unemployment appear to be issues on top of the voter’s mind this election season, two train rides through the heart of India’s Hindi belt reveal.

The first ride is on the Jammu-Varanasi Begampura Express that covers 1,261 kilometres, passing through 11 major cities. In an air-conditioned chair car compartment, 40 year-old Pankaj Sawhney, a businessman from Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur, says he voted for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), due to an “unprecedented improvement in law and order”.

The constituency voted in the first phase (April 11) of the ongoing general elections.

“In Saharanpur, when it was Akhilesh’s government in the state and Congress in the Centre, there was blatant hooliganism and open lawlessness…They (Muslims) would roam on their bikes and harass women. Much has changed since this government came in,” he says.

Across the aisle, his wife Seema says Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been India’s saving grace.

He is such an honest and hardworking man and only thinks about the public. Whatever gifts and funds he gets, he gives that to the common man. And look at his mother, he has such a close relationship with her,” she adds.

“I don’t get warm food at home till I say something to praise [Modi],” Sawhney laughs.

A few seats down, a debate has begun over development. Birendra Kumar, 29, says he will vote for ‘vikas’ (development) by the BJP government. A paramilitary personnel from Kathua in Jammu, who asked to not be identified, agrees readily.

“The roads have improved, many projects near Udhampur that were stuck before are now under construction,” he adds.

“But what did they do for the public and the youth?” Sitaram, a 50-year-old employee of the Northern Railways asks.

“Yes, work for the youth has been less,” the soldier admits. “Don’t say less, say zero,” Sitaram insists.

He is a resident of Varanasi, the PM’s constituency. “They have done nothing for education and employment. They have pit two communities against one another…In terms of development, go and see the conditions of lanes within Varanasi and see the so-called cleanliness they claim to have done,” he adds.

The tone of political conversation shifts in the sleeper class, where a group of weavers from Varanasi say they were forced to move to towns such as Ludhiana and Jalandhar in Punjab because of better business prospects. “BJP will win from here,” says Giash Khan.

When asked who they plan to vote for, the answer is “we support the party who’s winning”.

“Whichever way the inclination is, we vote for them. Last time we gave to Kejriwal [Aam Admi Party chief]. We don’t want to ruin our vote,” Khan adds. Sitting next to him, Mohammad Isa says unemployment is the reason they shifted to Punjab. “In Varanasi there is no business and everyone goes outside to work. In Punjab the ‘mahaul’ (atmosphere) is towards the Congress, we will wait and see how the atmosphere in Varanasi is like,” he says.

The mood shifts in the unreserved compartment, where people jostle for space while shouting over each other in a heated conversation. Naseem Akhtar thinks there is benefit in hailing from the PM’s constituency. “Electricity never goes in the area where the PM stands from. So much development has happened, government has improved roads and installed lights, even the Ganga is being cleaned,” he says.

“The union minister for Ganga only resigned, what are you talking about?” Mohammad Iqbal shouts from an adjacent seat.

“How is every opposition voice called Pakistani , what law says this?” Iqbal adds.

The two continue to debate on nationalism, corruption and unemployment as others join in. In the course of conversation, it emerges that Akhtar is unemployed.

In the plush Vande Bharat Express from Varanasi to Delhi, the topic of discussion changes and so does the demographic of the discussants.

In the semi-high-speed train’s executive class, Saurabh Sareen, a banker from New Delhi, says he is looking for a government which will bring economic stability and employment.

“We need economic stability and employment for everyone in India so that people who are below poverty can also get a balanced life, nutrition and an equal chances at prosperity. Everyone is talking about unemployment. People who have done engineering medical courses are also sitting idle. They don’t have jobs in India and that is cause of worry,” he says.

Some others are concerned about the lack of a strong opposition.

“The political atmosphere is in favour of the BJP. I will vote for them. The biggest reason is there is no opposition and that is why BJP gets the advantage,” says Chandan Rai, a civil services aspirant.

According to Uday Chandani, a senior Allahabad high court lawyer, there is no suitable prime ministerial candidate from the opposition. “When I go and cast my vote I will ask myself whom to vote, there is no PM candidate and everyone wants to be PM,” he says. Whom will he vote for then? “Do I even have to say? We are sitting in his train. The problem is there is no option for us.”

First Published: Apr 26, 2019 07:57 IST