Lucknow: The political storm triggered by the NEET paper leak and student stir at Jantar Mantar, which culminated in Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, has prompted parties in Uttar Pradesh to intensify efforts to woo the youth, a key constituency expected to shape the narrative ahead of the 2027 UP elections.Stung by growing student unrest, BJP’s Uttar Pradesh unit decided to depute its youth wing, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), to engage directly with students in colleges and universities. The initiative will focus on gathering feedback and highlighting measures taken by BJP govt for youth welfare.Sources said the state unit has asked BJYM to assign at least 10 functionaries in each assembly constituency to launch the outreach drive at the earliest. The programme is expected to begin once the youth wing’s state and district committees are constituted.Apart from strengthening its ground presence, BJYM has been tasked with countering opposition’s criticism through direct interaction with students and targeted campaigns on social media platforms.The development comes on the sidelines of Yogi govt’s initiative to prepare an integrated youth policy aligned with the aspirations and expectations of the state’s young population, with focus on education, skill development and employment.Analysts said the party appears to have recognised that the NEET controversy could create disenchantment among aspirational youth, particularly students preparing for competitive examinations. By sending BJYM workers to colleges and universities, BJP hopes to prevent the opposition from monopolising the discourse on examinations, jobs and education.BJP’s move comes close on the heels of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s recent ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme in Prayagraj, where he amplified youth concerns. Congress sources said the party, too, is strengthening its youth outreach by appointing young leaders to key organisational roles.In a recent reshuffle, Congress named Varun Chaudhary and Kunal Chaudhary as national secretaries for Uttar Pradesh. While Varun, a former Delhi University Students’ Union president, has been assigned the Prayagraj region, Kunal will oversee the Braj region. UP Congress spokesperson Anshu Awasthi said the strategy is to tap large student population in and around Allahabad University.“We need to understand the real problems faced by the youth. Issues such as unemployment and inflation remain unaddressed,” Awasthi said.Experts said the Congress, however, continues to face the challenge of translating issue-based mobilisation into a durable grassroots organisational structure.BSP, too, is seeking to consolidate its support among young voters by projecting Mayawati’s nephew and party national coordinator Akash Anand as its youth face. At Hathras rally on Aug 10, Akash played up the youth-centric narrative by referring to SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi as “Akhilesh Uncle” and “Rahul Uncle”, respectively.Sources said Akash’s remarks targeting Rahul and Akhilesh through a generational lens reflected a strategic attempt to position himself as the representative of the younger political generation.Party insiders said Mayawati is hoping to reconnect with Dalit youth, a segment that has increasingly drifted towards the BJP and the SP in recent years.Samajwadi Party is also stepping up its youth mobilisation efforts by activating its four youth wings: Samajwadi Yuvjan Sabha, Chhatra Sabha, Lohia Vahini, and Mulayam Singh Yadav Youth Brigade. These organisations are expected to expand outreach in educational institutions and among young professionals.SP spokesperson Sunil Sajan said the party will enhance youth representation at the booth level. “Each 12-member booth committee will have at least four youth members,” he said. The move suggests the SP is seeking to institutionalise youth participation rather than treating it as a campaign-season exercise.
