Drop minimum age for fighting elections in India to 21 years: AAP MP Raghav Chadha to Govt in Rajya Sabha

Aam Aadmi Party Member of Parliament (MP) Raghav Chadha has demanded that the minimum age for contesting elections in India be reduced from the current 25 to 21 years. This, Chadha said, will help increase youth participation in Indian politics.

“India is one of the youngest countries in the world. 65% of our population is less than 35 years old and 50% of our population is less than 25 years old” Chadha said, speaking in Rajya Sabha during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament on August 1.

#WATCH | In Rajya Sabha, AAP MP Raghav Chadha demands the minimum age for contesting elections in India should be reduced from 25 years to 21 years.

He says “India is one of the youngest countries in the world. 65% of our population is less than 35 years old and 50% of our… pic.twitter.com/NjL8p2Qjmb

— ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2024

When the first Lok Sabha was elected after Independence, Chadha said, 26 per cent of members were less than 40 years old.  “In the 17th Lok Sabha (the last Lok Sabha), only 12 per cent of members were less than 40 years old…. We are a young country with old politicians, we must aspire to become a young country with young politicians,” Chadha said. 

This is happening, Chadha said, because politics is still considered a bad profession in India. “ When a kid grows up, parents say to be a doctor, engineer, scientist, sportsperson, and chartered accountant. Nobody wants his kids to become leaders and join politics. I think we need to incentivise youth to attract them to join mainstream politics in India,” Chadha said.    

“I have a suggestion for the government of India: the minimum age for contesting elections should be reduced from 25 to 21 years,” he said.