Jaipur, Aug. 13 -- Every Rajasthan resident turning 18 is being sent a hard-copy birthday greeting from chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma at home since this month, as the political battle for the next generation of voters moves beyond rallies and social media posts - and into their homes, campuses, hostels and coaching centres. With panchayat and urban local body elections ahead and the 2028 assembly polls looming, both the BJP and Congress are redesigning their outreach to connect directly with Generation Z, a voter bloc that has emerged as increasingly vocal through student protests, paper-leak controversies and social media. The BJP-led government has taken perhaps the most personalised route yet with the birthday greeting. The card congratulates the new voter, urges them to enrol in the electoral rolls and highlights the rights, responsibilities and opportunities that come with adulthood, while also expressing a desire for a future personal interaction. In a recent letter addressed to a woman on her 18th birthday, Sharma said turning 18 marked the beginning of a new chapter and reminded her that she was now eligible to exercise her franchise in the world's largest democracy. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that "empowered youth are the foundation of a prosperous nation", Sharma said her thoughts, determination, dreams and efforts would contribute to the campaign for a developed India and a developed Rajasthan. He urged her to get her name registered in the electoral roll at the earliest, saying that her active and positive participation would strengthen Indian democracy. The chief minister also expressed a desire to meet her personally whenever an opportunity arose and extended his blessings for a bright future. The information and public relations department is dispatching close to 4,000 personalised cards a day from Jaipur, people privy to the details said. Each carries the youngster's name, father's name, address, mobile number and an alternate number to ensure delivery before the 18th birthday. A senior BJP leader said chief Minister Sharma has been regularly sending congratulatory messages to people on important occasions, but the initiative has now been expanded to reach out to young people as they become eligible voters. "Young people are pleased to receive personal messages from the chief minister. He maintains a family-like connect with people and treats them with a sense of belonging," the leader said. The BJP leader said the initiative also reflects the party's effort to instil a sense of patriotism and pride in Indian culture among the youth. "The objective is to connect young people with the country and its cultural heritage, while encouraging them to take an active role in society and democracy," he said. The BJP's political organisation is simultaneously preparing a Student Feedback Programme, under which Yuva Morcha, Mahila Morcha and social media teams will visit colleges, hostels and coaching institutes. BJP state social media cell in-charge Hirendra Kaushik said students will be asked about education, central government initiatives, paper leaks and other youth-related issues. The Congress, too, is building a dedicated organisational structure for Gen-Z. Rajasthan Congress social media and digital platforms department chairman Sumit Bhagasara said the party plans to constitute a Gen-Z Committee, initially at the state level and later at assembly constituency and block levels. Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully said the "Gen-Z protest" at Jantar Mantar had "shaken the BJP government", prompting it to scrutinise youth data and use it to woo young voters. Jully questioned how the government could use sensitive information such as citizens' dates of birth without their consent and demanded that it disclose the legal authority under which the data was obtained. He said the government was silent on core youth issues such as unemployment, the deteriorating condition of the RPSC, delays in recruitment and poor infrastructure in schools, but was quick to send birthday greetings to young voters. "This is not about the welfare of the youth, but a calculated attempt to use their personal data for political purposes and build a vote bank," he said. Meanwhile, the BJP has already begun experimenting with a more targeted youth narrative. On Kargil Vijay Diwas, its youth wing organised screenings of Shershaah, accompanied by the slogan "Gen-Z with Modi Ji", combining nationalism with youth outreach. Employment remains another battleground. The BJP government has publicised district-wise government appointments made during its first two-and-a-half years and announced recruitment to 81,000 additional posts. The Congress is countering with its own student-focused campaign. Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly raised competitive examination and employment issues, while the party's "Students' Voice" campaign launched from Kota is part of its effort to connect with students....