Politics via sports is what the two major political parties of Mumbai — BJP and Shiv Sena — are trying to do. Both parties are organising sporting events for the youth in the city. While the BJP's youth wing, the Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM-Mumbai), is focusing on sports at various ward levels, Yuva Sena, the Shiv Sena's youth wing, is also organising sports events for college students.
Political experts say the parties are vying for the floating vote base, which comprise the youth, which is why so many events are being held for them.
The Yuva Sena is organising an inter-collegiate sports summit, 'Yuva Khel Summit 2.0', to be held between December 4-5 at the Shahaji Raje Krida Sankul in Andheri. Over 300 colleges, with 5,000-plus youth will be battling it out in over 15 sporting disciplines, they said.
Meanwhile, the BJYM has also organised events spread over a few months. These include events at the ward level as well. Sports like kabaddi, kho-kho, cricket, etc. will be part of these. While the Yuva Sena is focussing on rink football, basketball, kabaddi, volleyball, box cricket, etc., college students can also participate in individual sports like boxing, swimming, chess and body-building.
Mohit Kamboj, BJYM-Mumbai president, said, "Our events are to take the work done by our government to the youth, our events are named after the programmes and policies of the governments at the Centre and at state levels. For example, one category is after skill development, the other is named after Jalyukt Shivar."
Former journalist and political expert Prakash Bal Joshi says, "The youth forms up to 50 per cent of the total voter base. While seniors have decided their political ideologies, the youth remain undecided and may still swing either side. The reason behind sports or musical events is to connect with the youth who don't normally pay attention to policy talk."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Aditya-Thackeray")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}