AGE OF CHANGE

Lowering the age to contest elections cuts to the heart of what kind of democracy India aspires to be: one that merely gives its youth a vote, or one that also gives them a voice

- BY KANU SARDA

WHEN INDIA HELD its first general election in 1951-52, only those aged 21 and above could vote. Still, over 17 crore citizens lined up, a staggering number in a nation where the majority were under 35, hopeful and untested in democracy. Four decades later, the voting age was lowered to 18, recognising the rising political consciousness of young Indians. But the right to contest remained out of reach. One could vote for leaders at 18, but not become one until 25.

That gap has only grown sharper. India is among the youngest countries in the world, with a median age of 28 and nearly 65 per cent of its people under 35. In 2019, 1.5 crore first-time voters aged 18-19 entered the voter rolls. By 2024, that number had climbed to 1.85 crore. Parties now chase their votes with promises of jobs, digital futures and climate action, yet deny them a seat at the table where those very decisions are made.

The Panchayati Raj system already allows individuals as young as 21 to contest elections. Thousands of young sarpanchs and panchayat members across India are governing villages, handling finances and shaping rural development.

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy recently suggested lowering the qualifying age for MLAs to 21. His statement has triggered a larger debate. Should India revisit the constitutional age bar that prevents millions of politically conscious young Indians from entering legislative politics until they turn 25? The issue goes beyond legal technicalities. It cuts to the heart of what kind of democracy India aspires to be: one that merely gives its youth a vote, or one that also gives them a voice.

The contradiction becomes starker when viewed alongside the fact that many influential youth leaders like Hardik Patel, Kanhaiya Kumar and Chandrashekhar Azad had significant following before they were eligible to enter legislative politics.