Hans News Service Vijayawada

AssemblySpeaker Ch Ayyanna Patrudu said youth play an important role in shaping India’s future. He was addressing the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association West Zone Meeting in Goa on Thursday.

Extending greetings to dignitaries including Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh, Ayyanna Patrudu said that the central issue in achieving the vision of a developed India by 2047 lies in increasing youth participation in legislative bodies.

Citing statistics, he noted that only 11 per cent of members in the 18th Lok Sabha and 7 per cent in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly are below 40 years of age, despite the country’s average age being around 32.

This significant gap, he said, must be addressed to ensure better representation and inclusive policymaking.

He stressed that for youth to contribute meaningfully they must first enter politics and succeed in legislative roles. However, prevailing political practices, including disruptions in legislatures and lack of decorum, discourage young aspirants. He called for exemplary conduct by elected representatives to restore faith in politics as a respectable profession.

Ayyanna Patrudu also pointed out the decline of student politics, once a vital training ground for future leaders. Reflecting on his own journey, he credited NT Rama Rao for giving opportunities to young individuals without political backgrounds, enabling them to rise in public life.

He proposed a bold reform, reserving at least 33 per cent of legislative seats for individuals below 40 years on a rotational basis, similar to women’s reservation. Such a step, he said, would infuse fresh energy, innovative ideas, and dynamism into governance.

He reiterated that without creating opportunities for youth, expecting their contribution to national development would remain unrealistic.