Youth comprise chunk of voters in UP

Courtsey : www.theindiapost.com , http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=9161
6 Mar 2009 : Generation next is all set to play a decisive role in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls in politically important Uttar Pradesh with 3.48 crore prospective voters in the age group of 18-29 years out of the total 11.62 crore.As per the data of the state Election Department, more than 50 per of the voters that is around 6.06 crore are people in the age group of 18-39 years.

"The participation of youth in the coming polls will be much higher and they will be playing a decisive role", said an election department official in Lucknow on Friday.

As per the data compiled by the department, 3.48 crore voters are in the age-group of 18-29, whereas another 3.12 crore electorates are between 30-39 years of age.

"The number of voters casting votes for the first time will be much more in this elections as compared to previous elections. During the revision of electoral rolls carried out last year, nearly one crore youths between the age group of 18-21 years got their names included in the list," the official said.

This high youth voter percentage has led many parties to field maximum number of young candidates in the elections.While Congress had decided to field over 30 per cent youth candidates in the Lok Sabha, BSP supremo Mayawati has decided to field over 50 per cent youths.

”We are of the view that youth should be promoted in politics and given a chance to lead. We have a youth leadership in Rahul Gandhi, who himself is promoting youth and giving them important organisational responsibilities", member of Congress Working Committee (CWC) Bhola Pandey said.

The party, in fact, had already launched an exercise to identify youth leaders.

As part of the exercise, youth conventions are being held across the state, wherein youth Congress leaders have been asked to prove their popularity and leadership qualities.

"Youths, which are larger in number should be given tickets to contest elections. Mayawati has not only announced to give 50 per tickets to youths but also followed it. We rely on youth power, which are which us", a senior BSP leader said.

Claiming itself to be the only party, which had given due respect and position to youth ever since its inception, Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav said the party would be banking on them in the coming polls.

"We have strong force of youths, who will be extensively campaigning for the party candidates", he said.

While Congress will be banking on the charisma of Rahul Gandhi and Jitin Prasad to attract youth voters, Mulayam Singh Yadav’s son Akhilesh Yadav and nephew Dharmendra Yadav will be trying to turn the tide of youth in favour of SP.

Among the first timers, Rastriya Lok Dal supremo Ajit Singh’s son Jayant Chowdhury, BJP Leader Maneka Gandhi’s son Varun Gandhi and Om Prakash Singh’s son Anurag Singh will also be entering the poll fray.