Uttarakhand’s three-tier panchayat elections have turned into a launchpad for young aspirants, reshaping the traditional image of local governance long dominated by elders. With fresh ideas and a vision for development, several youth leaders are stepping into active politics, aiming to bring transformative changes to their villages and constituencies.
Former student union president of DAV College, Siddharth Rana, is contesting for the Block Development Committee (BDC) seat from Raondeli. After gaining political experience in the city, he now seeks to serve his community at the grassroots. Similarly, ex-student leader Premchand Nautiyal is contesting from Mashak as a BDC candidate, emphasizing unity between youth and elders for local progress.
Another DAV College figure, Shyam Singh Chauhan, who previously contested for student union president on an NSUI ticket, is running for the Zila Panchayat seat from Raigi. He envisions elevating his constituency through new development initiatives.
Youth leaders such as Pramesh Rawat (BDC candidate from 10 Pyunal), Ankita Pal (village head candidate from Kholiya, Askot), and Nityanand Kothiyal (BDC candidate from Budhwa) also represent a shift in the state’s grassroots politics. Their common goal is not merely to become politicians, but to serve their communities meaningfully.
These young candidates plan to focus on healthcare, pension schemes for the elderly and differently-abled, infrastructure like community halls and cremation grounds, and the creation of sports fields, colleges, and parks. They believe the time has come for the elders to guide, while the youth take charge of leadership and implementation of government schemes at the village level.
