Modi calls on youth to join politics as parties seek fresh faces

Parties increasingly aware of importance of young people in nation with 60% under 35

- Nirmala Ganapathy

India Bureau Chief NEW DELHI When 34-year-old Surabhi Hodigere joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the southern state of Karnataka eight months ago, her family was surprised by her choice.

Politics is not seen as an obvious choice for young Indians unless they hail from a family with members involved in political affairs as it does not guarantee a fixed salary and is seen as a tough profession.

But parties are increasingly waking up to the importance of having young members in a country where 60 per cent of the population is under the age of 35.

They are looking to attract people like Ms Hodigere, a public policy specialist with a master's in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. She was made a spokeswoman for the BJP in Karnataka on joining the party.

After all, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during his speech on Aug 15 - India's Independence Day that he wanted to see "young people without any family connections in politics step forward, lead and represent the people".

He reiterated the call in his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio address on Sept 3.

A day later, the BJP kicked off a membership drive that included the top leadership along with the Prime Minister renewing their party membership and sharing joining links on their social media accounts.

"This (BJP) is where I felt most at home. I questioned if I was doing the right thing. Politics is a zerosum game and I could end up with nothing, but it gives me true purpose and passion," Ms Hodigere told The Straits Times.

With unstinting support from her mother, she said she felt the BJP was the right political fit for her, as she agreed with its ideology.

In 2023, the BJP government earmarked 33 per cent of seats in state assemblies, as well as parliamentary seats in every election, for women candidates.

That was the clincher for Ms Hodigere.