Punjab Newsline, New Delhi/ Chandigarh , August 1-
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has demanded that the minimum age for contesting elections in India be reduced from the current 25 to 21 years to increase youth participation in politics.
Speaking in the Upper House today, Chadha said India is one of the youngest countries in the world. “The average age of our country is only 29 years. 65% of our country's population is below 35 years of age. More than 50% of our country's population is below 25 years of age. But are our elected representatives also so young?” he reasoned.
He said when the first Lok Sabha (in 1952) was elected in this country, 26% of the people in that Lok Sabha were below 40 years of age and in the 17th Lok Sabha (dissolved on June 16) only 12% of the people were below 40 years of age. So as the country is getting younger, our elected representatives are getting far away from that youth.
Raghav Chadha said the age for contesting elections in this country is 25 years. Whether it is Lok Sabha election or Vidhan Sabha election, the minimum age should be 25 years to contest that election, he added.