Shrikant Shinde calls for lowering the minimum age to contest polls from 25 to 18

Shiv Sena leader Shrikant Shinde, speaking in the Lok Sabha on 9 December 2025, demanded that India reduce the minimum age required to contest both Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections from 25 years to 18 years. He argued that if citizens become eligible to vote at 18, they should also have the right to stand as candidates in elections.

During a broader debate on electoral reforms, Shinde went further — advocating for a common electoral roll for all elections and calling for simultaneous polls for Parliament and state Assemblies. He also supported remote voting for migrant populations, seeking to make the electoral process more inclusive and accessible, especially for those with frequent geographic mobility.

Shinde’s proposal was contextualized against the backdrop of calls for greater youth representation in politics. He underscored that denying potential 18-year-old candidates the chance to contest elections while allowing them to vote creates a disconnect: young citizens are granted a voice at the ballot box but are not permitted to offer themselves as representatives.

His remarks triggered a wider conversation on the role of young politicians in shaping national and state-level policies, and whether age-based eligibility thresholds should reflect changing social and demographic realities. If implemented, the change could significantly broaden the pool of aspirants — potentially bringing in fresh perspectives and energising political engagement among India’s youth.