Generation Z or Gen Z has emerged as a fresh equation in the upcoming civic polls in Bengaluru, significantly shaping election strategies and making candidates look for new ways to reach voters.
As former Congress councilor Abdul Wajid says, “The city has undergone a substantial transformation in the last 10 years and this new demographic of voters has a different perspective on society and the city. Aspirants should be well informed about this, adjust their views and adapt to their mindset.”
He jokingly said that a “white and white” campaign will not work in these civic polls because expectations now go far beyond fixing storm drains or providing water connections.
Former mayor G. Padmavathi of the Congress said the demographic change would ensure real representation in women’s reservations. “Often when a woman contests for reservation quota and gets elected, chances are the man (her husband or brother) ends up in the government, while the woman remains a face. That will change,” said Ms. Padmavathi, who has contested five civic polls and won four of them.
The logic of Ms. Padmavathi’s contention is that the new set of voters has a keen eye to spot whether a woman is contesting and campaigning on her own views and abilities, or whether she is merely the face of someone else’s strategy.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Joint Secretary Prithvi Reddy has predicted that this civic election is also likely to see a high turnout. He said the new voters are the main victims of the collapse of infrastructure over the years and the daily hardships that result. “When people bear the pain directly, they solve it. This new wave of voters who have witnessed these hardships would like to fix the problems and this time they will go to the polls,” he said.
Candidates with a vision
Generation Z voters spoken to by The Hindu said they expect candidates to have a vision for the city along with knowledge of local civic issues and have a strong voice and courage to challenge undesirable developments.
Poorvi S., 21, who will be voting in the civic polls for the first time, said she will be looking for a candidate who can talk about larger civic policies that will shape the city, engage citizens and demonstrate the ability to think and discuss practical solutions to civic issues such as sanitation, road safety and everyday citizen grievances.
Smitha Rao, 27, an active civic worker in north Bengaluru, said candidates should have a no-holds-barred approach to governance and talk about issues such as air pollution, environmental issues and last-mile connectivity, which have gained prominence in recent years. She added that the candidates should also commit to solving long-standing problems such as garbage management and dependence on water tankers by regulating them and breaking the mafias that control these sectors.
Mr. Reddy said Gen Z voters cannot solve problems on their own and need younger representatives who understand what the city requires. This, he says, is why AAP has decided that 35% of its contestants will be under 35 years of age.
Mr Wajid said the party had already received 1,500 applications from aspirants. “Selection will involve multiple criteria, including the ability of candidates to understand and meet the needs of voters of all age groups,” he said.
However, citizens hope that the candidates will not be children or relatives of councilors of the same age. At the same time, many former councilors have found ways to stay connected on a grassroots level. For example, Ms. Padmavathi started an NGO and continues to work closely with citizens, while BJP’s NR Ramesh, a former councillor, has remained active in the public domain.
Published – 14 Jan 2026 21:35 IST
