Minimum age for contesting polls be reduced from 25 years to 21 years.

Should the minimum age for contesting polls be reduced from 25 years to 21 years?

In India gerontocracy is considered as a major problem in the political field. It restricts the youth from entering into the politics. The political party AAP wants to reduce the minimum age for contesting polls from 25 to 21 years. Do you support the idea? Do you think it should be seriously considered by the system?

Yes

• If the age of voting has been reduced from 21 years to 18 years then what is the problem in reducing the minimum age for contesting poll to 21 years. It is a logical corollary.

• Look around the world and you will find that many countries like Australia, South Africa and others have set 18 years as the minimum age to contest local to national elections.

• Private sector has already adopted the egalitarian approach and is providing opportunities and delegating responsibilities to the deserving youth.

• The vision and the perception for country’s development is required that even a 21 year old youngster can possess.

• It is a digital world and today’s kids have sharp mind that can adapt to the changing dynamic quickly. Today’s generation at the age of 21 is grown up enough to venture into the political field.

No

• Contesting polls and giving vote are entirely two different things. A contesting candidate has to look after the welfare of people and have to take the steps in the same direction.

• Every specialized field offers a lucrative career only when a person completes its PG degree, somewhere around the age of 24-25. Why should politics be an exception?

• Educational competence is must to have a good command over parliamentary trust and initiate a must needed change.

• If gerontocracy is the problem then it is better to fix an age limit for the elected member to retire from politics. It will automatically pave way for the young blood.

• At the age of 21, youngsters don’t have a stability of character and lack personal maturity that can affect their decision making process in complex political matters.

• If you talk about other countries then it is worth mentioning that parents over there leave them to work on their own at a very early age and this is not the case in India.

Conclusion

At 21 years, most of the youngsters are busy in having a good time wit their friends and family. They are more impulsive and less mature to handle the political clouts and their functioning. Also the country needs literate candidates in the political system who can well represent the country and can handle the matters efficiently at national as well as on international level.