Telangana to push Resolution for 21 years poll eligibility

Revanth hails Gen Z victory in TPCC candle light solidarity rally in Necklace Road

metro india news I hyderabad

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Saturday announced that the State Government would convene a special session of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council in the first week of August to pass a resolution urging the Centre to reduce the minimum age for contesting Assembly and Parliament elections from 25 years to 21 years.

Calling it a necessary democratic reform, he said the resolution would be forwarded to New Delhi and that Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge would be urged to pursue the proposal in Parliament to ensure greater representation for India's Gen Z population.

Addressing a candlelight solidarity rally at People's Plaza on Necklace Road against the alleged assault on students protesting the NEET paper leak issue in Delhi, Revanth Reddy described the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as a victory achieved by India's youth through democratic struggle. 

He said the movement must now continue until criminal cases filed against protesting students are withdrawn and adequate compensation is paid to the families of students who lost their lives following the examination controversy. He accused the Centre of failing to conduct examinations fairly, causing immense hardship to lakhs of students.

Highlighting the need for greater youth participation in governance, Revanth Reddy recalled that Rajiv Gandhi reduced the voting age from 21 to 18 years through the 61st Constitutional Amendment, while former Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao enabled younger participation in local bodies through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments.

He noted that several countries already permit younger candidates to contest elections and argued that India's large Gen Z population deserves meaningful representation in legislatures. Describing India's youth as the nation's future, he said fearless democratic participation by young people would strengthen the country and pledged continued support for their aspirations and rights.