Youth Vote in 2024 Lok Sabha Elections
| Published date | 01 December 2024 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/23210230241289582 |
| Author | Sanjay Kumar,Devesh Kumar |
| Date | 01 December 2024 |
Youth Vote in 2024 Lok Sabha
Elections
Sanjay Kumar1 and Devesh Kumar1
Abstract
In the 2019 and 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) enjoyed a significant appeal among
the youth. However, in 2024, the stakes completely changed and the party ended up losing significant seats.
This article explores political participation of youth in 2024 Lok Sabha elections and focuses on the central
question: Is the youth still attracted to the BJP? Using data from National Election Study (NES), the article
discusses how the youth have voted and the reasons behind their voting choice. The findings reveal that
despite extensive efforts of political parties in carving out a youth constituency, none were truly successful.
Keywords
Youth, Bharatiya Janata Party, voters, elections, Indian democracy
Introduction
India stands out against international trends, with two-thirds of its population under 35 years (Malin &
Tyagi, 2023; Mandhana, 2018). The broad contour of this massive demographic factor is very visible, mak-
ing the youth a major constituent of the Indian population. While active participation of young (Attri &
Mishra, 2020; Kumar, 2014) and first-time voters (Basu & Mishra, 2014) has been beneficial for the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Lok Sabha elections, the international trends indicate a different story.
Research on established democracies has highlighted a declining trend in youth voter turnout. Studies
from Canada and Britain suggest that young people are less likely to vote, showing increasing apathy and
disengagement from traditional politics (Blais & Rubenson, 2013; Kimberlee, 2002; Pammett & LeDuc,
2003). Others indicate that while youth are interested in the broader politics, they feel a sense of political
alienation and are often labelled as ‘disaffected’ due to their distinct political behaviour (Sloam, 2007).
This characterization raises an important question about youth participation: Are young people really as
disengaged as these studies suggest?
Some scholars argue that this perceived low involvement among the youth stems from their scepti-
cism towards political systems, politicians and parties (Henn et al., 2005). Others suggest that political
engagement increases with age and experience, influenced by life cycle or generational effects
(Martikainen et al., 2005; Quintelier, 2007). Moreover, many young people prefer informal, cause-
oriented political actions—such as political consumerism, protest politics, or online petitions—over
Original Article
Studies in Indian Politics
12(2) 277–288, 2024
© 2024 Lokniti, Centre for the
Study of Developing Societies
Article reuse guidelines:
in.sagepub.com/journals-permissions-india
DOI: 10.1177/23210230241289582
journals.sagepub.com/home/inp
1 Lokniti-CSDS, Delhi, India
Corresponding author:
Devesh Kumar, Lokniti-CSDS, Delhi 110054, India.
E-mail: darveshkumar0@gmail.com
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