In Assam, Young Voters Say Citizenship Bill, Infra Development Key Issues

Today is the last day of campaigning for the first phase Lok Sabha polls in 14 constituencies across Northeast India along with simultaneous assembly polls in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. The Northeast is crucial for the BJP as it was able to win as many as 22 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats in the region along with its regional partners. In the first phase, five seats in upper Assam would go to polls. This is the area where the BJP saw massive backlash over the citizenship bill, and the manifesto that the party has released clearly promises a return of the bill if voted back to power. The first phase will be a test for the BJP if it is able to overcome the bill backlash, and for that young voters are the key. We spoke to a bunch in a cafe conversation at Dibrugarh, the main city of Upper Assam apart from catching up with star campaigners.