New Delhi: A day after being fielded as Congress nominee against Union Tourism Minister Jagmohan, Delhi Speaker Ajay Maken today (Apr 11, 2004) kicked off his poll campaign by raking up the age factor of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his electoral opponent in New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency.

Maken said Vajpayee and other BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leaders like Jagmohan were on the odd side of age and should pave the way for youngsters to take hold of power in the country.

"Vajpayeeji is almost 80 years old and after five years will be 85. Similarly, Jagmohan will be 83 years old after five years," he said while opening his election office and asked "how can they justify their candidature when 74.5 per cent people in the country were below 40 years of age?"

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"People like them should pave the way for clean and experienced youngsters to rule the country," said the former Delhi Transport and Power Minister, having the image of a "performer".

Noting that in America 57.6 per cent of people were below 40 years of age while in the UK such a figure was 53.2 per cent, Maken said the Prime Ministers in these countries were aged between 40 and 50 years.

"But in case of our country, it is the reverse," he said, adding, "Only a young leader can understand the problems of the youth, like unemployment."