Another Gen Z-led Change, Bihar Awaits it

The win of New York Mayor's chair by Indian-American Zohran Mamdani with the support of the City's Gen Z has a loud and clear message for Bihar's voters-- to vote for a change for new trajectory of growth in the state. Mandani mobilised the people who wanted to replace the politics of the guard with a new brand one of pro-poor and inclusivity.

Mamdani is just 34 years old. He defied both establishments--Democrats and US President Donald Trump. He started his campaign just six months ago with padyatra and social media outreach. Mamdani brought morality in politics centre stage. His agenda was class-neutral with free public transport and universal child care.

Gen Z played a significant role in his victory, discounting his targeting by his critics on the grounds of his age and inexperience. His pro-immigrants, pro-poor and anti-rich approach struck a positive with the voters.

The Bihar's new political party Jan Suraaj has a similar agenda-- to end the pivotal role of caste in electoral politics, to give quality education to all at the state's costs, to stop distress migration and give so much in the hands of the poor that it would meet their basic needs and they are not forced by the circumstances to migrate other states for a thousands of monthly income.

Jan Suraaj party founder Prashant Kishor has also promised to end the rent-seekers Raj and free the state of the stronghold of the mafias. His style of campaigning is also similar -- padyatra and social media. He also started off just three years ago, a very short time keeping in view the expanse of the state. He is also young, 50 years old.

Will the voters adapt to his new grammer of politics and break the mould or continue to travel along the conservative line of caste and religious royalties? It will depend how the Gen Z votes.