World · India Bureau
Mayawati warns of political parties 'hijacking' Gen-Z youth movements
BSP chief Mayawati has raised concerns that political parties are co-opting grassroots movements focused on youth unemployment and student welfare. The alleged appropriation has created mistrust among younger voters, she claimed.
LSN India ·
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati has cautioned against what she describes as the systematic 'hijacking' of Generation-Z-led movements by established political organisations. Speaking on the trend, Mayawati expressed concern that movements originally centred on addressing youth unemployment, educational concerns and broader generational grievances have increasingly been steered by political parties for electoral advantage.
The BSP leader warned that this co-option threatens to undermine the authenticity and effectiveness of youth-driven activism. She suggested that young people, students and the unemployed are growing increasingly sceptical of political involvement in movements that originated as organic expressions of their concerns.
Mayawati's remarks highlight growing tensions between grassroots youth movements and established political structures across India. The development reflects broader anxieties about how generational issues—including joblessness, educational quality and social mobility—are being channelled through existing political frameworks rather than addressed as independent concerns.
The BSP chief's warning comes as youth-centred campaigns and student-led activism have gained prominence in recent years, attracting attention from political parties seeking to mobilise younger voters ahead of elections.