Pune: In June, a final-year electronics and telecommunication engineering student from a city university went to Pashan Police grounds at 4 am to compete, along with 1.7 million applicants across Maharashtra, for 17,000 constable positions — roles that require only a Class XII pass A month later, a walk-in interview by AI Airport Services in Mumbai attracted nearly 25,000 hopefuls vying for over 2,000 openings. The massive crowding almost led to a stampede-like situation.
As youths in the state gear up to vote, job scarcity in both govt and private sectors has left many young people disillusioned, which may impact their voting decisions.The unemployment rate for persons with education level graduation or above in the state was 13% in rural areas and 7.6% in urban areas in 2022-23, according to the Economic Survey of Maharashtra 2023-24.
This discontent has caught the attention of political leaders, who have recognised it as a potential game-changer in the upcoming election. Political veterans like Sharad Pawar have met MPSC student protestors multiple times this year, even before the campaign began. Meanwhile, younger leaders such as Rohit Pawar and deputy chief ministers Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis have also quickly aligned themselves with youth-led demonstrations, which many see as a strategy to secure the crucial youth vote that could be decisive in a closely contested election.
However, students and young people are frustrated with the political discourse in the st.
