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Youth and Gen-Z voters may be discussed more in the electoral politics of UP, but the post-poll survey data of CSDS-Lokniti shows that classes like housewives, farmers-laborers and the elderly have a much bigger influence. The share of these three groups together reaches about 67%.

Tezzbuzz Desk- Election results in Uttar Pradesh are not decided only by young voters or social media trends. There are many big voter groups at the grassroots level, which are directly to family, employment, farming and government schemes. According to CSDS-Lokniti's Uttar Pradesh Post-Poll Survey, housewives, farmers-laborers and elderly people play a very important role in the electoral mathematics.

30.2 percent respondents in the survey were housewives. When the share of farmers, agricultural laborers and general laborers is added, the figure reaches 29.4 percent. Apart from this, the share of people aged 56 years or above was 19.2 percent. The separate category of elderly living at home was 7.7 percent.

Why are housewives a big vote bank?

For housewives, issues like inflation, ration, gas cylinder, family income and benefits of government schemes are directly to everyday life. This is the reason why the strategy of political parties regarding women voters has continuously strengthened.

Although every woman has similar political preferences, issues to family expenses and needs may influence her voting decision. In the 2022 survey, a large number of people also said that they would get government benefits regarding free ration.

Electoral importance of farmers and laborers

Farmers, agricultural laborers and general laborers together constitute about 29.4 percent share. According to the data, 13.6 percent people were farmers, 8.4 percent landless agricultural laborers and 7.4 percent general laborers.

Issues like employment, crop price, cost of farming, income and inflation remain important for this class. The survey also showed both satisfaction and dissatisfaction among the voters regarding the government price of the crop.

This is the reason why political parties' appeal to the rural and working class cannot be limited to just rallies. At the local level, questions to employment, income and agriculture form an important part of the election strategy.

Elderly voters can also be decisive

The share of elderly people living at home was 7.7 percent, while the figure of voters aged 56 years and above was 19.2 percent. In terms of numbers, this class may be smaller than housewives or farmer-laborers, but in many families the opinion of elders can influence election decisions.

Issues such as government assistance, family financial condition, security and functioning of the government may be important for this age group.

The share of respondents up to 25 years of age in the survey was 12.3 percent. Young voters are certainly important. Their role is important on issues to employment, education, social media and future. But the figures indicate that it would be incomplete to understand the electoral equation of UP only from the perspective of Gen-Z.

Inflation, development and unemployment are also big issues

In CSDS's 2022 survey, 63.4 percent of valid respondents said that inflation had a great or great impact on their voting decision. In case of development this figure was 73.8 percent and in case of unemployment it was about 70.7 percent.

It is clear from this that whatever be the category of voters, issues to everyday life can play an important role in the election decision.

Party also decides the direction of voting

Another important aspect of the survey was that 70 percent of the respondents said that while deciding their vote, they gave more importance to the party than the candidate.

Therefore, in the election picture of UP, it is not enough to just see which social class is how big. What issues are reaching these voters, what is the experience of government schemes and how are political parties making their strategy – all these aspects can have an impact on the election results.

conclusion: Gen-Z is definitely important in the electoral mathematics of UP, but it will not be easy for any political party to ignore the big sections like housewives, farmers-laborers and the elderly. The number of these classes and their direct connection with everyday issues gives them special importance in election strategy.