Election Agenda: What Mumbai’s Gen Z demands from Lok Sabha polls

With Lok Sabha polls entering phase 2, a ridiculously large number of Gen Z and millennials are refraining from voting. In a bid to decode why, midday.com interviewed Mumbai's youth, who shared insights into their comprehension (or lack thereof) of the 2024 general elections.

"We don't have much knowledge on this subject," confessed Suruchi Rastogi (21), a pharmacy student, when queried about her voting history. With a lack of education on who to vote for, the voice of Indian youth remains dormant when it comes to choosing their leader.

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The world's largest democracy, India is also home to the largest youth population globally. Despite this demographic prowess, youth influence on the elections appears to be stifled: with fewer than 40 per cent of eligible voters aged between 18 and 19 being registered for the 2024 general elections, according to the Election Commission of India.

Several young people interviewed by the Midday team also opined that youth representation is missing from the parliament; and that the current agendas of political parties don't take into consideration their aspirations.

Sumit Anand (23), a student of Rizvi College, Bandra said: "Most of the elected members are senior citizens. For example, LK Advani and Amit Shah sir. They are mostly seniors. I don't see much youth representation in Indian politics."

On the other hand, Shivam Khandelwal (29), who completed his MBA at ICFAI Business School, offers a different perspective, arguing that younger members might not have enough experience to become lawmakers. "I suppose, for now, a millennial obviously would be the one who might get into the parliament. Not anyone post that generation. But even a millennial would lack the aptitude to ensure that the government performs its duties satisfactorily."

Saima Akhtar (24), from National College in Khar, opines that there are youth members in Indian politics but not enough. In the current Lok Sabha, only 12 per cent of the members are youth leaders, as per a report by ‘Youth in Politics.' Some of the prominent youth leaders in India are Sachin Pilot, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Agatha Sangma, Lakshika Dagar and Tejasvi Surya.

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Does Gen Z know who to vote for and why?
While the youth remain complacent in learning about their constituencies and representatives, some of them blame it on their parents for not introducing them to Indian politics. Shifali Bhasin (19), a student of Psychology shares: "I've never felt the need to get a voter ID because my parents never had one either."

Conversely, Anand takes a divergent stance thanks to the escalating presence of Indian political discourse on social media platforms. "Although I have not visited Ayodhya, I have seen that Ram Mandir has been built very well. I think due to the internet trend, BJP will win this time."

When asked about how he decides who to vote for, Anand shared that he assesses candidates based on their five-year performance to determine their effectiveness and accomplishments. "My vote is cast accordingly, taking into account their demonstrated excellence over time," he added.

Parallelly, Khandelwal hints at a growing reliance on hate speech and polarisation amongst politicians to garner votes. "As much as we get to see the events in Delhi, it does feel that this is not going the correct way, however, I am not much into the political part."

Coming from a finance background, Khandelwal places heavy weight on factors like India's inclusion in the JP Morgan Government Bond Index. "I am happy with the fact that the country is better rated on platforms like CRISIL, ICRA, SMERA. I am not much into politics as I don't understand it." Khandelwal separates himself from how politics is unfolding by concentrating on financial prosperity.

Saima outlines her criteria for voting decisions: She prioritises development, including infrastructure and educational opportunities, particularly for the youth. Additionally, job availability and international engagement factor into her considerations.

What the youth wants from the elected party
Gen Z and millennials voice their aspirations from the winning government, prioritising initiatives on education and the environment.

Khandelwal stresses that green cover needs to expand to mitigate climate change. "While the ruling party promotes electric cars as a step towards environmental sustainability, the extraction of lithium, a crucial component, poses significant harm to nature, contradicting their green initiatives. Furthermore, I find the ongoing construction of roads unsettling, especially when travelling. It often leaves me questioning: are we living in a concrete jungle?"

Driving the focus back to rising unemployment in the country, Anand appeals that the winning party needs to prioritise employment opportunities and invest in infrastructure, particularly in sectors like hospitality, healthcare and education. Given the soaring costs of schooling, steps should be taken to reduce fees, ensuring that more parents can afford quality education for their children.

While Bhasin is not voting this year, she highlights 4 issues she wants to be resolved by the party that wins Lok Sabha elections: Academics, Schools, Cleanliness and Mumbai traffic.

Saima expands on local issues by emphasising the current condition of road infrastructure in Mumbai. "Give us good roads within the city. Yes, the coastal road project is great but what about internal roads that remain unattended, dug and ruined for years?"

She continues, "Moreover, the issue of excessive street hawkers needs to be addressed, along with better regulation of traffic violations such as unauthorised parking and restricted entry areas for vehicles."

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Bringing back the focus on safety, Khandelwal shares that crime rates need to be reduced, especially considering recent incidents where perpetrators easily evade capture. For instance, the shooter at Salman Khan's residence appeared to carry out the act effortlessly, raising questions about law enforcement efficacy. Additionally, reports suggest he was the primary suspect in the Sidhu Moosewala case and managed to flee to Azerbaijan, despite being connected to a jailed relative, prompting concerns about the effectiveness of the justice system.

Harsh Singhal (19), pursuing Bachelor of Management Studies appeals to the government to improve the education curriculum, reduce the burden on students, and equip them with practical life skills beyond mere syllabus completion. Additionally, addressing poverty by allocating more funds towards poverty alleviation programs is imperative. Lastly, he remarks that there is a pressing need for global food security initiatives to ensure sustainable access to nutrition for all.

Singhal concludes by saying that "rather than having strict rules, I believe there should be more supervision on how these rules are followed in certain states and certain cities."

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