It's time to cheer Youngistan! These Lok Sabha elections have proved beyond doubt that the way to Parliament is being led by young India.
It's time to cheer Youngistan! These Lok Sabha elections have proved beyond doubt that the way to Parliament is being led by young India.
The parties who managed to win know they owe it to young leaders. Those who lost are listing their anti-youth agendas which they don't want to repeat.
Unlike the politics of religion, caste and economy, the politics of the youth is not selfish. The new brigade doesn't want to play games. It wants development.
Traditionally, politicians calculated their vote banks on religion, caste and economic status. Even this time they tried to divide the electorate on these lines but lost. This time, development and fresh ideas won.
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My conclusion was strengthened by a first-time voter from the Baniya community. I asked if she had voted for the Baniya leader her parents had chosen.
"My parents voted for Vijender Gupta (who was BJP's Chandni Chowk candidate) but I chose Kapil Sibal (the winning Congressman from the seat) instead. I find him more qualified, innovative and dynamic."
I couldn't have agreed more. And so do political parties who know that in future elections, the selection of candidates will be much more challenging.
This time, many young leaders won because of Rahul Gandhi but next time, their individual performances will count.
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The young Turks are aware of it too. "It is good that people have believed us and chosen us. But for their continuous support we have to work," said Jyotiraditya Scindia, even as the congratulatory messages kept coming in.
Even those young leaders who managed a party ticket because of their family legacies, converted the opportunity into a win. They knows a second chance won't be easy to get if they fail to deliver.
MPs like Anurag Thakur, son of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, Dushyant Singh, son of Vashundhara Raje, Akhilesh Yadav, son of Mulayam Singh, Jayant Singh, son of RLD supremo Ajit Singh and many others know their real test will be the next polls.
With each election, the number of youth voters is going to go up. Their force is going to be strengthened further.
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