Politics is not the favoured destination of youth in Kerala today unlike in the past when they were fascinated by it.
“There has been a decrease in the number of youth entering politics but that does not mean that they are averse to it,” Youth Congress state president P C Vishnunath admits.
Earlier there were clubs and libraries in villages where the youth could gather and discuss various matters, including politics. This has changed and the new meeting places are all apolitical. Along with this, the family set-up has also changed, he said. “Today it is all nuclear families and the children are under the supervision of the parents,” he says.
“But in the recent Neyyattinkara and Piravom elections, the voting percentage was high due to youth participation. They are now more involved in discussions on facebook,’’ he says.
According to DYFI state president M Swaraj, youth participation in active politics has come down due to globalisation and social changes.
SFI state secretary P Biju opines that the new trend is undesirable. “It is the political leadership that is ruling the country. So everyone should be part of politics,” he says.
KSU state president V S Joy says, “The changes taking place everywhere have affected the youth also. Apolitical view has been growing, which is not good.”
According to ABVP leader B K Priyesh Kumar, the trend is because the youth are job-oriented. Apart from this, the parents have complete control over their children. There is need for a strong political leadership that is lacking now, he adds.