BJP youth outreach: Party rethinks 'Gen Z' label, eyes nuanced engagement

New Delhi: The BJP's brainstorming session on engaging with young people on Saturday concluded that the cohort cannot be treated as a single, uniform group, according to sources who attended the meeting. The discussion, chaired by BJP National President Nitin Nabin, was held under a youth outreach initiative and saw participation from around 45 young leaders.

Several attendees argued that the term "Gen Z" should be avoided in favour of broader terms like "youth" or references to specific age groups. They stressed that young people across different regions, economic backgrounds, and lifestyles have distinct aspirations and concerns.

One participant acknowledged the "horizontal solidarity" witnessed during recent protests over the NEET exam paper leak, led by a group called the Cockroach Janta Party. However, they added that this did not mean all young people share the same life experiences. "Young people in tier-two cities and villages will have different ideas about life, their opportunities, and what they think on various issues," the attendee said, advocating for a graded approach to engagement.

The meeting also heard suggestions that the party must ensure its outreach to youth does not alienate older supporters and long-time party backers. A participant noted that energising veteran workers is just as important as expanding outreach among the young, and efforts should be made to strengthen cadres' confidence in the leadership.

According to sources, the 45 participants have been divided into five or six groups, led by Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and Chhattisgarh Minister O.P. Choudhary, among others. Participants have been asked to send their recommendations to team leaders, who will compile them for further consideration.

All recommendations are expected to be submitted within the next seven to eight days, preferably before September 10. The suggestions gathered will be considered for implementation in future party programmes.

Preparations are also underway for youth-focused activities during the "Seva Sankalp Mahotsav", which will mark 25 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public service journey from September 17.

The meeting was attended by Union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw, Mansukh Mandaviya and Jyotiraditya Scindia, as well as Ministers of State Kamlesh Paswan and Raksha Khadse.