Did Madhya Pradesh Vote for Its Youth?

The elections for the 230-seat assembly were held on November 17 and saw its highest-ever voter turnout at 76.22%, with Seoni district topping the list. The average age of an MLA in the new assembly is 55, and the overall gender breakdown is 89% male and 11% female. The youngest MLAs are Abhijeet Shah Makrai, 31, from INC, Sharad Juglal Kol, 32, from BJP, and Kamleshwar Dodiyar, 33, from BAP. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the key issues that the youth of Madhya Pradesh faced in the elections and what the BJP has promised to do for them after winning.

One of the main concerns on the minds of the young voters was employment. According to a report by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), Madhya Pradesh had an unemployment rate of 7.9% in October 2023, higher than the national average of 6.8%. Many youth were also disillusioned by the irregularities and scams in the recruitment exams for government jobs. The BJP, in its manifesto, pledged to create one crore jobs in various sectors, including agriculture, industry, tourism and education. The party also promised to provide skill development and financial aid for young entrepreneurs and start-ups.

Another issue that affected the youth was education. Madhya Pradesh has one of the lowest literacy rates in the country at 70.6%, compared to the national average of 74.04%. The state also suffers from a shortage of teachers, infrastructure and quality in its schools and colleges. The BJP vowed to improve the education system by increasing the budget allocation, upgrading the facilities, recruiting more teachers and introducing new courses. A third issue that concerned the youth was the environment. Madhya Pradesh is home to several wildlife sanctuaries and national parks but also faces challenges such as deforestation, pollution and climate change. The BJP committed to protecting the environment by planting 50 crore saplings, promoting renewable energy, banning single-use plastic and implementing solid waste management. The party also promised to provide incentives for farmers who adopt organic farming and water conservation practices.

These are some of the key issues that influenced the youth vote in Madhya Pradesh elections. The BJP has made several promises to address these issues and improve the lives of the young generation. It remains to be seen how well they will deliver on their commitments and how satisfied the youth will be with their performance.