suchithkc
Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 19: More and more elderly people are flocking the party offices to file their nomination papers as candidates for the forthcoming Assembly polls in Kerala.
Most of the senior members are above the age of 70 and some of them have even crossed 80.
Despite demands from the youth wing of the political parties in the state, the senior members are of the opinion that the party cannot function if all the seniors are sidelines from contesting in the elections.
"I am not saying to keep all younger people out of the elections. With important people remaining, others should stand away to make way for youngsters but it does not mean that all elderly candidates should step out of the elections," said Podiyan Kunju Mohammed, a senior member of Congress party.
However, young political leaders stressed on the need for senior leaders to retire from public life so as to pave the way for youngsters.
"In government services, the retirement age is 55. Why that age is fixed? Why the retirement age is not enhanced to 75 or 85? A person has the capacity to do something between that 25-55. In politics also, definitely retirement is necessary," said Anil Kumar, former President of Youth Congress, Kerala.
Kerala Chief Minister VS Achutanandan is himself 87, and is expected to contest in this year's election as well.
The polling for 140 assembly constituencies in Kerala will be held on April 13.
No comments:
Post a Comment