Telangana CM Revanth Reddy Pushes to Lower MLA Contesting Age to 21

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has announced that he will formally push for lowering the minimum age to contest for Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) and Member of Parliament (MP) seats to 21 years. Currently, the Constitution of India mandates a minimum age of 25 for these positions. The Chief Minister argued that if citizens are eligible to vote and marry at 18 and 21 respectively, they should also be deemed mature enough to represent the public in legislative bodies. This proposal is intended to significantly expand youth participation in India's democratic processes.

Reddy framed his proposal as a continuation of the vision of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He recalled the 61st Constitutional Amendment Act of 1988, which reduced the voting age from 21 to 18, recognising the voice of young India. By invoking this historical reform, the Chief Minister aims to build a consensus that the current age barrier of 25 is outdated. He emphasized that the energy and technological literacy of the younger generation are essential for modern governance and for addressing the unique challenges faced by India’s youth population.

Implementing this change would require a constitutional amendment, necessitating a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament and ratification by at least half of the state legislatures. While the proposal originated at a regional level in Telangana, it has the potential to spark a national debate on political inclusivity. If successful, this reform could pave the way for a younger demographic in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, potentially shifting policy focus toward education, digital infrastructure, and climate change. Political analysts suggest this move could also help the Congress party strengthen its appeal among Gen-Z and millennial voters.