Gen-Z Could Shape India’s Next Political Contest, Say Journalists at Indore Journalism Festival

Senior journalists discuss the changing political landscape, social-media-driven public opinion and the growing importance of young voters and democratic institutions

Indore | SDNA

Indian politics is gradually moving beyond the traditional equation of political parties, ideologies and conventional vote banks. Social media, the political engagement of Gen-Z, youth-centric issues and growing public scrutiny of democratic institutions are increasingly influencing both the language and direction of political discourse.

This emerging transformation was at the centre of discussion during the first session on the second day of the Indian Journalism Festival in Indore, where senior journalists from different parts of the country examined how politics and public opinion are evolving.

A recurring theme during the session was that young people may no longer remain merely a demographic segment targeted during elections. Their preferences, online behaviour and participation in public issues could increasingly influence electoral strategies, policy priorities and the political agenda itself.

From Voters to Potential Kingmakers

Journalist Mukesh Meena of Jaipur described the changing political behaviour of young Indians as part of a wider transformation taking place across society.

Drawing parallels with the way climate change has forced governments and societies to rethink established systems, Meena argued that politics too is experiencing a similar period of disruption.

He pointed to growing political fluidity, shifting electoral alliances and the movement of voters beyond traditional party choices as signs of a changing electorate.

Referring to local-body election trends in Rajasthan, he observed that the gap between the principal political parties was not always substantial, while independent candidates attracted a significant section of voters.

According to him, this could indicate that voters are increasingly willing to explore alternatives outside established political structures.

The emerging Gen-Z electorate, he suggested, could become a decisive force—or “kingmaker” bloc—in future elections, making it increasingly difficult for political parties to ignore youth concerns.

Young People Need a Larger Role in Political Leadership

Senior journalist Dr. Pradeep Rao argued that youth participation in politics needs to move beyond campaign activity and voting.

He said young people are receiving opportunities in fields ranging from sports and engineering to education and technology, but their representation in political leadership remains comparatively limited.

Rao called for greater participation of young people in democratic institutions and urged students to raise their voices through democratic means for the restoration of student union elections.

He described campus politics as an important first step in developing political leadership and argued that reducing opportunities for political dialogue in universities and colleges could weaken the leadership pipeline.

He also stressed that protest alone cannot be considered the final objective of a movement. The real test, he said, is whether the concerns behind a movement eventually translate into meaningful institutional and policy outcomes.

Questions Over the Independence of Constitutional Institutions

Senior journalist Ravindra Singh Sheoran shifted the discussion towards the health of India’s constitutional institutions.

He argued that political parties may make strategic compromises based on their interests, but the long-term stability of democracy depends on the Constitution and the institutions created to uphold it.

The independence and credibility of institutions such as the Election Commission have become increasingly important subjects of public debate, he said.

Sheoran emphasised that the right to vote is one of the fundamental pillars of democratic participation. If citizens lose confidence in their ability to exercise that right effectively, the broader democratic framework can also come under pressure.

He also linked growing youth unrest in some situations to a perceived communication gap between governments and students.

Bangladesh and Nepal Offer Lessons for India

Dr. Utkarsh Sinha of Lucknow referred to recent youth-led developments in Bangladesh and Nepal to illustrate how quickly social-media-driven public mobilisation can develop into a larger political phenomenon.

He noted that youth dissatisfaction in Bangladesh emerged around issues connected with the quota system, while protests in Nepal were influenced by concerns surrounding social-media restrictions.

The broader lesson, he suggested, is that governments and political parties cannot afford to overlook issues that resonate strongly with younger generations.

Political communication itself is changing.

Traditional manifesto-driven messaging is increasingly competing with memes, short-form content and social-media conversations.

Sinha argued that political parties once largely determined the public agenda, whereas today many issues emerge from society first and are subsequently adopted by political organisations.

He also cautioned the media that journalism cannot remain disconnected from these changes.

If journalists fail to understand how public opinion is being formed in digital spaces, they risk losing relevance among a generation that