She will target the18-25 age group at Sunday’s “youth rally” that will be addressed by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Poonam Mahajan is hoping that the initiative will help her inherit the family legacy; earlier attempts to get her brother Rahul Mahajan to take up political responsibilities had failed.

“After her father’s death in 2006, Poonam’s brother Rahul was considered to take up an active role in the party but things did not work out. Poonam’s mother Rekha Mahajan too declined to become active politically. It was then that Poonam joined the BJP’s youth wing, BJYM (Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha). She has been active in addressing rallies for the youth and in 2007 she was made general secretary of the youth wing,” said a senior BJP leader.

The BJP has chosen Poonam, now general secretary of the state BJYM, to present a charter of demands that will address issues concerning the youth. “Youth and unemployment, security cover and even loans to be granted for unemployed youth form part of the Yuvaknama or the charter of demands,’’ said Poonam, who was in the city on Thursday to overlook the preparations for the rally.

“I am confident that the NDA government will come to power; the charter of demands have been formulated after visiting various parts of the state,” she said. Poonam said that she had talked to a cross section of the youth in the state before formulating the charter of demands.

BJP sources said Poonam is a potential candidate from either Mumbai North or Mumbai South to take on Milind Deora or Priya Dutt. “I cannot yet comment on my candidature as it is yet to be announced. One of my focus areas will remain the concerns of the youth,’’ she said.

Poonam said it was unfortunate that youth are not receptive to politics as a medium of change and there is a need to change their attitude and ensure greater participation of youth in politics.

The BJYM has launched another programme to attract the youth by publicly felicitating newly enrolled voters, to encourage their participation in the polls, she said.