Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has called for an amendment to the Indian Constitution to reduce the minimum age for contesting Assembly elections from 25 to 21 years, stressing the importance of active youth participation in politics. Recalling former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s decision to grant adult franchise at 18, the CM said it empowered young people and strengthened India’s parliamentary democracy.

Speaking at the Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Yatra commemoration at Charminar on Sunday, CM Revanth Reddy also took a strong swipe at the opposition BRS, accusing it of functioning as a “B team of BJP” to split votes in the Jubilee Hills Assembly by-election. He alleged that the BRS entered a secret agreement with BJP during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, transferring 21 percent of votes to BJP, which, he said, proved the party’s conspiracy politics in the state.

The CM warned that BRS has adopted the same strategy for the upcoming Jubilee Hills by-election and cautioned that similar collusion with BJP could continue in the next Assembly elections. He appealed to voters to foil the BRS attempt to divide public support.

Highlighting the importance of youth engagement, CM Revanth Reddy reiterated that lowering the age to 21 for contesting elections is the need of the hour. He praised Rajiv Gandhi’s legacy in promoting democratic values among young citizens and remembered the Sadbhavana Yatra launched by the former Prime Minister to safeguard national integrity.

During the event, the Chief Minister presented the Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award to senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid, commending the organizers for continuing the spirit of Rajiv Gandhi.

He also recalled the sacrifices of the Gandhi family: Indira Gandhi’s dedication to national unity, Rajiv Gandhi’s continuation of her legacy, and Rahul Gandhi’s ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra, which he said inspires the entire nation. CM Revanth Reddy noted that the three generations of the Gandhi family remain a major source of inspiration for India.