Telangana CM Pushes To Lower Candidate Age Limit To 21 For Gen Z
Hyderabad: Revanth Reddy, Chief Minister of Telengana has, made a big announcment that on Saturday that his government would move a resolution in the State Assembly urging the central government to reduce the minimum age to contest Assembly and Lok Sabha elections from 25 years to 21 years.
While addressing a massive Gen Z rally in Hyderabad, Revanth Reddy said the time had come to give young Indians a greater role in shaping the country’s future. Reddy asked Gen Z, "If a 21-year-old can become an IAS officer, contest local body elections, and even serve the nation through the civil services, why can't they contest Assembly and Parliament elections?"
He further said that his government would convene a special session of the Assembly and Legislative Council in the first week of August to pass a resolution seeking the constitutional amendment. He also added that Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Malikarjun Kharge would pursue the issue in Parliament
Reddy also cited that former PM Rajiv Gandhi’s decision to reduce the voting age from 21 to 18 through the 61st Constitutional Amendment and PV Narasimha Rao’s 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, which allowed 21-year-olds to contest local body elections, to make the case strong for lowering the age limit.
While addressing the concern, he said that Gen Z accounts for nearly 30 per cent of India’s population but has less than one per cent representation in Parliament. He said, "India's future lies in the hands of its youth. The country's legislatures must reflect that reality.”
