Internal surveys conducted by the BJP have revealed that the party’s old guards are failing to attract young turks in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.
The party’s central leadership has been informed that it lacks youthful appeal in the state where its unit is dominated by senior leaders. The BJP was hoping to woo young voters but its surveys have revealed that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has already seized the opportunity in the state. The surveys also show that young voters in the state prefer communicating with youth leaders like Mr Gandhi rather than senior leaders. Assembly elections in the state are scheduled for next year.
Desperately trying to increase its number in the state, the BJP was hoping to woo young voters which it thought could make a significant increase in its vote bank. The BJP is also trying to revive its old vote bank and focus on the “floating voters” to gain strength in the state. The BJP, which has 51 members in the current state Assembly, is trying hard to project itself as the main contender for the UP polls.
It is not only Mr Gandhi and his youth brigade that the surveys show have punctured the BJP’s hope of wooing youth, the Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav is another leader who is getting good response among the young voters in the state.
To attract young voters, the BJP had asked its state unit leaders to contact more and more young people as well as organise youth gatherings to discuss issues which concern them.
The party also opened accounts on social networking websites to communicate with young voters but sources disclosed the response was dismal.
“Rahul (Gandhi) is someone who not only pitches for but is also a symbol of youth power in politics. Though we (the BJP) have stalwarts but it is very unlikely that young voters can relate with them,” said a senior BJP functionary.