India (Commonwealth Union)_ India is preparing for what is anticipated to be the world’s largest election, as announced by the country’s election commissioner on Saturday. Scheduled to commence on April 19, this monumental electoral event is poised to witness Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s endeavor for an uncommon third consecutive term in office. Notably, with an estimated 960 million eligible voters out of a population of 1.4 billion, this widely anticipated election is expected to span over a month.
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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Modi, is anticipated to seek another five-year tenure, governing an India increasingly marked by religious polarization. The country will witness polling unfolding across seven phases, culminating on June 1. Voters will be casting their ballots for 543 seats in the lower house of parliament, known as the Lok Sabha, with the remaining two seats nominated by the president. On June 4, all votes from India’s 28 states and eight union territories will be tallied, as confirmed by the election commission during a recent press conference.
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Further, under Modi’s stewardship, India is positioned as a burgeoning 21st-century powerhouse, as a result of rapid economic expansion. However, analysts observe a tightening grip on democratic institutions under his populist leadership, similar to the authoritarian rule seen during the era of Indira Gandhi in the 1970s. Challenging Modi’s BJP is the principal opposition party, the Indian National Congress, led by Raghul Gandhi, which has dominated Indian politics for much of its post-independence history. Forming alliances with other parties last year, the Congress aimed to bolster its national standing, resulting in the formation of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). Despite this strategic move, internal divisions within the alliance persist, compounded by the absence of a prime ministerial candidate with comparable charisma and appeal to Modi.
Throughout the preceding year, Modi’s agenda included diplomatic engagements with countries such as Australia and the United States, projecting himself as a global statesman and reinforcing India’s status as a contemporary global force. Notably, India achieved significant milestones in space exploration, including the successful soft landing of a rover on the moon and the launch of its maiden solar research spacecraft. Additionally, hosting the Group of 20 (G20) summit in September further underscored India’s aspirations for global leadership amidst a backdrop of escalating political uncertainty.
Further, January witnessed the unofficial commencement of Modi’s election campaign, coinciding with the inauguration of the contentious Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, a Hindu temple constructed on the site of the demolished Babri mosque in Ayodhya. Analysts perceive this event as a departure from India’s secular foundations, as Modi endeavors to blur the lines between religion and state in his pursuit of a third term. Despite controversies surrounding this initiative, Modi garners praise from his supporters for his unwavering commitment to the Hindu faith. In the previous election in 2019, Modi’s BJP secured a resounding victory, winning 303 parliamentary seats and surpassing the requisite threshold for an absolute majority, thereby giving a major blow to the Congress party.
Additionally, India’s demographic landscape continues to evolve, with its working-age population exceeding 900 million, according to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Projections indicate that this figure will surpass 1 billion within the next decade, as affirmed by the Indian government. The election commission also reports a notable increase in voter registration, with 968.8 million individuals enlisted to participate in the forthcoming 2024 polls, signifying a 6% surge from the previous election cycle in 2019.
