India is the largest democracy in the world where political leaders come from different classes and social backgrounds. In early 2000 there was a lack of political interest among youngster but Anna movement changed that perception. As young citizens we take interest in country’s political discourse. Here we bring to you young promising leaders who are gradually changing the narrative of Indian politics
1) Raghav Chadha:
At a first glance, Raghav Chadha comes across as a geek working at a software company but similarity just ends there. The 28 year old is the national spokesperson of Aam Aadmi Party. Besides he is also spearheding party’s legal team. Earlier this month, he relinquished the post of party treasurer for Deepak Bajpai. A chartered accountant by profession, Chadha was initially least intersted in politics but it was the anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare that got him involved. Later he joined Aam Aadmi Party where he was appointed as AAP’s official spokesperson. Chadha could be seen taking on political heavy weights in debates on news channels. With a strong following of over 150000 Twitter users, the AAP member does not shy away from voicing his opinion and take on his political opponents.
2) Ragini Nayak:
Politics comes naturally to Ragini Nayak, her family was involved in India’s freedom struggle. She also chose student politics as learning ground during her college days at Delhi Univeristy. She became president of the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) in 2005-06. Subsequently, she would be appointed National General Secretary of the NSUI. In 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Nayak was a popular face on TV debates. Owing to her excellent communication skills, the party appointed her spokesperson of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee in 2014. Currently, she had a Twitter follower base of over 33000 users. “It is on campuses that students get initiated into political consciousness. It is here that they develop a sense of commitment towards contributing for the betterment of our socio-political system,” Nayak told Hindustan Times.
3) Nupur Sharma:
Sharma completed her graduation from Delhi’s Hindu College in 2006. In 2008, she contested for the post of student union president and won the election. A year later she got involved in activities of Akhil Bharatiya Janta Party. She got a Law degree (LL.B.) from Faculty of Law in 2010. Same year, the 25 year old was made an executive member of the BJP’s national youth wing., then left for London School of Economics to complete her Master’s. In 2015 Delhi elections, Sharma was fielded against Arvind Kejriwal which she lost but her articulate arguments and unceasing energy earned her the post of the spokesperson for her party, the BJP. With nearly 87000 followers, Sharma is quite active on social media. She has the potential to play more important role for the saffron party.
4) Atishi Marlena:
A product of Delhi’s prestigious St. Stephen’s college, Marlena considers herself more of an activist than a politician. Born to a family of academics-activists, debate over politics and government policies were part of her daily life. She joined AAP but currently does not hold any post on the party but is an advisor to Delhi’s Education Minister Manish Sisodia. With a following of 97.9K, Marlena puts her views succinctly even if it differs with her own party. A decade back she started working in rural Madhya Pradesh to make a difference but she realised the policy roadblocks could not be tackled in this “grassroot-moving-upwards” fashion. She later joined Anna Movement and eventually landed up in AAP.
5) Ajay Alok:
Alok completed his MBBS from Maharshtra’s Dy Patil Medical college. After returning from Pune, he set up a firm called Indira Gopal Institute of Medical Services (IGIMS) in Patna where he dealt in high-skill diagnostic services and medical consultancy services in 2000. In those days running a successful business in Bihar was like inviting trouble. The young Alok and his father who was also a doctor began getting extortion calls from gangster named Bindu Singh. However, these threats did not deter him from running his business. In 2005, Alok contested election on Lok Jan Shakti Party’s ticket and secured 11000 votes. In 2007, he joined the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and in 2010, he contested the assembly elections, securing 34,000 votes but losing by a narrow margin. However, he was deeply impressed by the initiatives of Nitish Kumar and joined the JD(U) in 2012, and was later appointed as the party’s spokesperson. Though he has over 3600 followers on Twitter, he has shown lot of promise to emerge as a dynamic leader of his party.
6) Girish Chodankar:
All India Congress Committee secretary Girish Chodankar, a leader of Goan origin who is attached as AICC Secretary to party vice president Rahul Gandhi. It was Chodankar who alleged that Rs 1,000 crore was spent on horse-trading and luring non-Congress legislators by the BJP for formation of government in Goa. With over 14000 followers on Twitter, Chodankar has emerged as a fierce critic of the saffron party.
7) Alka Lamba:
Born on 21 September 1975 to Amar Nath Lamba and Raj Kumari Lamba, Alka studied at Delhi University, Dyal Singh College, Delhi and St. Stephen’s College. President of the Delhi University Students Union in 1995. She was appointed as General Secretary of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) in 2006. However, she she was disencnated with the grand old party. She later particpated in Anna movement and joined Aam Aadmi Party eventually. In February 2015, Lamba contested in Delhi Legislative Assembly election from Chandni Chowk and defeated her nearest rival Suman Kumar Gupta of Bharatiya Janata Party by margin of 18,287 votes. However Lamba also had her share of controversy. Representing National Commission for Women on 16 July 2012, as one of the member of the enquiry team of 2012 Guwahati molestation case, Lamba met the victim of Guwahati molestation case, held a press-conference and revealed the victim’s identity. Following this, she was removed from the fact-finding committee of NCW. On 10 August 2015 a CCTV footage recovered from a sweet shop in Kashmere Gate on shows Alka Lamba vandalising it along with her supporters. She has over 60000 followers on Twitter.
