CM proposes eligibility to contest for Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha at age 21. For the Legislative Council and Rajya Sabha is 25 years
Special resolution in the Telangana Legislative Assembly to reduce the age limit to contest elections and provide more opportunities for Gen Z
The Gen Z representation in the Lok Sabha is less than 1 percent
Gen Z will hold the Education portfolio in Rahul’s cabinet
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy participates in a candlelight rally protesting the attack on students at Jantar Mantar
Hyderabad, July 25: Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy emphasized that the Gen Z generation should be given more representation in the legislative bodies- State Legislative Assemblies, Legislative Council, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha. The Chief Minister announced that a resolution to this effect would be adopted in the Telangana Assembly and forward to the Centre.
The CM pointed out why the youth of our country should not have the same opportunity that allows individuals in many developed nations to become Prime Ministers at the age of 21.
CM Revanth Reddy participated in a candlelight rally held on Saturday night—organized by the TPCC from People’s Plaza to Necklace Road—to protest the NEET question paper leak and the lathi-charge against students at Jantar Mantar. The rally also demanded compensation for the families of students who died by suicide and revoke cases booked against the students.
Addressing the thousands of ‘Gen Z’ youth at the rally, the Chief Minister noted that in countries like Singapore, Britain, and Germany, citizens can become Prime Ministers as early as age 21. The CM stressed that such opportunities should also be provided to the Gen Z in our country.
CM Revanth Reddy recalled that during PM Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure, the 61st Constitutional Amendment was enacted to lower the voting age from 21 to 18. It was due to Rajiv Gandhi’s decision that young men and women—even those just coming of age—got the right to vote. The Chief Minister also highlighted that during P.V. During Narasimha Rao’s rule, the eligibility age for contesting elections to posts such as Mayor and Zilla Parishad (ZP) Chairperson in urban and rural local bodies was reduced from 25 to 21 years. The historical decisions made by Congress Prime Ministers provided an opportunity to the youth to vote at the age of 18 and secure positions in local bodies at the age of 21. The acts brought into force during the Congress rule was the reason a young woman could be elected Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram at the age of 21.
The CM also pointed out that, out of 543 MPs in the Lok Sabha, Gen Z representation is less than 1 percent. It is not right for Gen Z—which constitutes 30 percent of the population—to have less than 1 percent representation in the Lok Sabha, the Chief minister remarked. When CM Revanth Reddy asked if they were ready for the responsibility of being sent to the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly at the age of 21, the Gen Z responded affirmatively.
The Chief Minister expressed the view that for Gen Z’s issues to be resolved, they must have representation in legislative bodies. The youth were demanding the provision for individuals to contest elections for the Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha at the age of 21, and for the Legislative Council and Rajya Sabha at the age of 25.
CM Revanth Reddy announced that a special session of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council would be convened in the first week of August to introduce and pass a resolution seeking to lower the age limit for contesting elections to legislative bodies. This resolution would be forwarded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central Government.
The Chief Minister noted that it is possible to be selected for the country’s highest civil service at the age of 21 and recalled instances where individuals were selected as IAS and IPS officers at a young age—citing Sri Lakshmi (at 21), Ananya from Mahabubnagar district (at 22), and the current DGP C.V. Anand (at 22).
The CM stressed that the youth should not merely march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament but should move directly from the streets into Parliament (Sadak se Sansad).
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy remarked that if the opportunity to contest Lok Sabha elections is available at the age of 21, it would allow the voice of Gen Z to be heard within the House itself. The CM assured that in the government to be formed at the Centre under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, the Education portfolio would be entrusted to a Gen Z leader. He would convince Rahul Gandhi and the leaders of the INDIA alliance regarding this matter, the CM said, emphasizing that key portfolios—such as Education and IT—should be given to 21-year-olds rather than to those aged 60, 70, or 90, noting that the youth themselves best understand their own needs.
The Chief Minister praised the fighting spirit of Gen Z. The Congress party has no intention of claiming credit for the achievements secured by Gen Z. It was the fact that the youth managed to force the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan—compelling a government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who boasts of a “56-inch chest,” to yield after a struggle where they stood firm against lathi-charges and bullets.
The agitation did not end with Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, the Chief Minister warned that the Congress party would launch a protest in Parliament under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and Kharge if compensation is not paid to the families of students who died due to the exam paper leaks, and the cases filed against students during the movement are not withdrawn by Monday.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka; Ministers Duddilla Sridhar Babu, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Ponnam Prabhakar, Seethakka, Azharuddin, and Adluri Laxman Kumar. TPCC President Mahesh Goud; MPs Vem Narendar Reddy, Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, and Anil Kumar Yadav; MLAs Danam Nagender, Arikepudi Gandhi, Vallala Naveen Yadav, Sri Ganesh, Malreddy Ranga Reddy, and T. Rammohan Reddy; CPI MLC Nellikanti Satyam and CPI leader Palla Venkat Reddy among others participated in the rally.