24% lawmakers in Chhattisgarh are youth

Raipur, October 19

In last one decade, there has been a paradigm shift in the mindset of modern-day voter who has started believing that young brigade is capable enough to steer country’s politics. Chhattisgarh, a 13-year-young state, is best reflection of the voters’ latest inclination as its 22 legislative constituencies are represented by youth. This young lot forms 24% of the 90-member state legislative assembly.

The political parties, which are experiencing transition in the present era in the backdrop of their retiring warhorses and second rung leaders coming to forefront, too seem mesmerized by the new buzzword – ‘youth power rocks’ as they are giving considerable preference to young workforce in the system.

However, during polls these parties suddenly resort to ancient cult of picking candidates on the basis of their experience in politics.

This happened in Chhattisgarh too where large parties like BJP and Congress were way behind Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in terms of fielding youth (below 40) in 2008 assembly elections. As compared to BSP’s 51 young candidates, the BJP and Congress had pitted 22 and 14 respectively.

Nevertheless, the winning percentage of BJP and Congress was higher than that of BSP. While shares of BJP and Congress were 63% (14 seats) and 42% (six seats), the BSP’s stake was merely 4% (two seats).

Interestingly, out of total 1066 candidates in fray, 543 were youth which is 51% of the total contenders, an apparent indicator that not only large parties but even small and regional parties too attempted to cash in on ‘youth formula’ to make inroads for victory.

The youngest candidate in 2008 polls was Mahesh Kumar Panagar (21) from Chhattisgarh Vikas Party. He contested for Pandaria assembly seat, but stood last among total nine contestants by securing just 939 votes.

The 14 winners from BJP were Deepak Kumar Patel, Raju Singh, Narayan Chandel, Yuddhveer Singh Judev, Laxmi Baghel, Neelima Singh Tekam, Saroj Pandey, Ramji Bharti, Bramhanand, Lata Usendi, Kedar Kashyap, Baiduram Kashyap, Bhima Mandavi and Mahesh Gagda.

Narayan Chandel is presently deputy speaker in state assembly. Saroj Pandey later contested general elections and won from Durg constituency. After becoming MP, she resigned from the post of MLA. The party rewarded tribal youth Kedar Kashyap and Lata Usendi as CM Raman Singh inducted them in his cabinet. Presently, Kashyap is tribal development minister and Usendi is women and child development minister. Two other candidates Yuddhveer Singh Judev and Mahesh Gagda are parliamentary affairs secretaries.

The six winners from Congress were Ramdev Ram, Amarjeet Bhagat, Hriday Ram Rathiya, Padma Ghanshyam Manhar, Shiv Kumar Daharia and Guru Rudra Kumar.

The two winners from BSP were Saurabh Singh and Doojram Boudh. Saurabh Singh joined Congress a few months back.