‘Youngsters can help get a facelift by voting’

Indian politics has recently been infused with generous doses of young blood. This change requires a catalyst and the approaching elections can serve this purpose. The voters, especially youngsters, can help get a facelift by voting young educated candidates to power.

Indian politics has recently been infused with generous doses of young blood. This change requires a catalyst and the approaching elections can serve this purpose.

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There has been a longstanding need to move away from geriatric leadership. The voters, especially youngsters, can help get a facelift by voting young educated candidates to power.

I’m currently abroad for work and, unfortunately, won’t be back on time to vote.

I would have cast it in favour of a candidate and not a party. I would urge the youth to do the same. It’s time we accorded more importance to the candidate’s educational background and manifesto than his/her political affiliation. Many people waste votes by voting for parties their families have been loyal to. The young voters can change that.

I had my first brush with politics at 16, when I helped actor and family friend Vinod Khanna with his campaign in Gurdaspur (Punjab). I found that the rural voters take a keen interest in polls and make an effort to know their candidates. Such enthusiasm is missing among the urban educated voters.

We were more excited about the US elections than the polls we’ll have now. I guess such excitement can only be generated after we move to a two-party system. Now parties conveniently form alliances to come to power.