Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker took a significant step towards active citizenship by casting her vote in the 2024 Haryana Elections. Emphasizing the importance of youth participation in the democratic process, Manu, along with her father, Ram Kishan Bhaker, exercised their voting rights at a polling station in Charkhi Dadri on October 5th.
“Being the youth of this country, it is our responsibility to cast our vote for the most favorable candidate. Small steps lead to big goals. I voted for the first time,” Manu Bhaker shared with ANI. Her father, a proud supporter of his daughter’s active role in civic engagement, echoed these sentiments. “Manu is the brand ambassador and a youth icon for voting. She had to come. We vote in every election. How will our village develop if we do not vote… I would request everyone to come out and vote. It’s better to come out today than to curse the government for the next five years…” Ram Kishan Bhaker stated.
The Haryana elections are witnessing a high-stakes competition between major political parties like the BJP, Congress, and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The BJP aims to secure a third consecutive term, while the Congress seeks to reclaim control. Issues like farmer protests and wrestler protests have significantly impacted voter sentiments in the state. Voting will take place across 90 constituencies with 1,031 candidates vying for positions, and over 2 crore voters, including 467 from the third gender, are eligible to cast their ballots.
The elections are being held from 7 am to 6 pm, with over 20,000 polling booths set up across the state. Manu Bhaker’s vocal support for active participation in the elections underscores the importance of young voices in shaping the future of the country. Her message resonates deeply with the youth, encouraging them to actively engage in the democratic process and make their voices heard.
In recent interviews, Manu Bhaker also addressed the possibility of a biopic based on her life. While she’s not ready for a Bollywood version of her journey just yet, she acknowledged the potential for such a project in the future. When asked about her preference for the lead actress, she expressed admiration for Ananya Panday’s recent work, particularly her performance in the film ‘Kho Gaye Hum Kahan’, which she found impressive. Panday’s performance in the Netflix thriller ‘CTRL’ has also received critical acclaim, further solidifying her position as a rising star in the industry.
