HYDERABAD: Noting that 21-year-olds are eligible to join the civil services but cannot contest Assembly or Lok Sabha elections, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday announced that the state government would convene a special session of the Assembly to pass a resolution urging the Union government to lower the minimum age for contesting such elections from 25 to 21 years.
“The government will introduce and pass a resolution in the Assembly by convening a special session in the first week of August,” he said.
This came after the chief minister, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and other Congress leaders, participated in a candlelight rally organised by the Congress from People’s Plaza to the Indira Gandhi statue at Necklace Road.
Addressing the gathering, Revanth said the proposal was intended to give greater political representation to the country’s youth.
Recalling reforms introduced by former prime ministers, he said Rajiv Gandhi, through the 61st Constitutional Amendment, lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, while P V Narasimha Rao reduced the minimum age to contest local body elections from 25 to 21 years.
India’s future will change if 21-year-olds become ministers: CM
Arguing that the same principle should apply to Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, the chief minister pointed out that candidates are eligible to join the IAS, IPS and IFS at the age of 21 and questioned why they should have to wait until 25 to contest elections. He also cited countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom, where citizens can enter Parliament at 18, and Singapore, where individuals are eligible to become the prime minister at the same age.
Stressing that India’s future depends on greater participation by young people in governance, Revanth urged them not to wait until they turn 25 to enter politics. “You need not wait till 25 years. You should raise your voice in the legislative bodies instead of protesting at Jantar Mantar. India’s future will definitely change and the country can compete with developed nations if 21-year-olds become ministers,” he said.
Pointing out that Gen Z representatives account for less than one per cent of the 543-member Lok Sabha despite youth constituting nearly 30% of India’s population, Revanth said Parliament and state Assemblies must create greater opportunities for young people to enter public life.
Turning to national politics, Revanth said the country’s youth had defeated the leader known for his “56-inch chest”, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said, “Gen-Z protests have made Dharmendra Pradhan resign from the Union Cabinet. This is the victory of the youth of this country.”
The chief minister further demanded that the Union government withdraw cases registered against the protesters and announce compensation to the families of deceased NEET candidates by Monday.
Speaking on the occasion, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Mahesh Kumar Goud accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP of trampling the Constitution and democratic values while resorting to religious politics.
