Mumbai's BJP is plotting a fresh twist in civic politics by roping in Gen Z—those born from 1996 to the early 2010s—as the "third eye" in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) governance, should the ruling Mahayuti alliance clinch the upcoming elections. As part of the coalition with Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP, the BJP unveiled plans for a youth internship program during a student meet at YB Chavan Auditorium, aiming to infuse innovative ideas into urban planning and policymaking.

Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam, fresh off the announcement, told ThePrint that the initiative would harness Gen Z's fresh perspectives to tackle Mumbai's chronic headaches like pothole-riddled roads, monsoon flooding, vanishing open spaces, waste woes, environmental degradation, pedestrian-unfriendly streets, and safety lapses. "We intend to involve Gen Z in policymaking and governance, utilizing their valuable inputs for the city's welfare. They can come up with innovative suggestions for Mumbai's betterment," Satam emphasized, noting the demographic's heft—youth aged 18-29 make up about 20% of Maharashtra's electorate, bolstered by 4 lakh new voters last year.

Post-election, the program will select 50 sharp Gen Z grads with public policy or governance backgrounds through a rigorous, merit-based process. They'll shadow civic operations, whip up research papers, and pitch bold reforms. The breakdown? Two interns per each of Mumbai's 24 administrative wards, plus a duo at BMC HQ for a bird's-eye view. "The youth were buzzing with excitement—they see it as a real shot at shaping Mumbai's governance," Satam shared, dubbing them the vigilant "third eye" on administrative blind spots.

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Echoing the Chief Minister Fellowship launched in 2015 under Devendra Fadnavis, where young fellows mentor under top officials and file monthly reports, this BMC blueprint promises hands-on immersion. Satam hinted at scaling up if the pilot soars, with finer details dropping soon. As BMC polls loom, this youth-centric gambit could energize the BJP's campaign, turning Gen Z skeptics into civic crusaders and injecting vitality into Mumbai's creaky bureaucracy.

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