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Half of AAP nominees are less than 30 years of age.

NEW DELHI: When the Aam Aadmi Party talks of change, it has already brought about one in its own ranks. Compared with stalwarts from parties like the BJP and Congress which are filled with senior politicians in their 60s and 70s, almost 50 per cent of AAP's candidates for the forthcoming Delhi elections are less than 30 years of age.

While some say that such a team smacks of inexperience and might not be able to hold forth in front of seasoned politicians, the party believes that this is its USP.

"It was a conscious decision by the party to field as many young people as we could find. They have more energy, ideas and dynamism and are a much better option to traditional politicians. Imagine an IIT graduate, married last year, contesting against a 70-year-old man who has been in politics since decades ago. Youngsters have a much better appeal," said Manish Sisodia, spokesperson of AAP.

It helps, say AAP party workers, that Arvind Kejriwal, who is leading them into these elections, is still not 50 himself. Of the 57 candidates for whom data was available, only one candidate is above 60 years while over 80 percent are less than 50 years. "Our volunteer base is also largely students and people less than 40 years.

The party truly believes that youth can bring about a change and we have made that apparent in our nominees. Our campaign has rested to a large extent on the shoulders of these young and capable persons, who have come with new ideas, are tech savvy and completely disillusioned with the current political situation," said a party source.

Somdutt Sharma, a 36-year-old contesting from Sadar Bazar, was active in student politics and has been the president of Khalsa College union. Even then, he says, he fought as an independent since he did not subscribe to views of other political parties.

"I am getting a very positive response from people when I go out campaigning. In fact, people find it much easier to connect with someone my age since I can identify with both the young voters and the older people," he said.

Kapil Mishra, a 33-year-old who comes from a family of politicians, says that AAP's candidates are challenging the idea of a ' neta'. "What do people think when the word politician is mentioned? We are challenging that perception of people. We are young and dynamic and can handle the pressures of campaigning much better," he says.

What about the lack of political experience, one asks. "What experience are we talking about? Most of our current old-timers have experience in corruption and failed governance. We are promising a change from that," Mishra said.

source:TOI

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