In April 2024 Indians headed to national polls in what was considered to be the world’s largest democratic elections, as over 900 million people were registered to vote for a government for the next five years. This was considered a decisive election since the Narendra Modi-led government ran for a third consecutive term. Key contenders battling for 543 seats across the nation were the BJP-led NDA coalition and Congress-led INDI Alliance. The former emerged as a winner with 293 seats. However, the ruling party BJP fell short of the halfway mark of 272 seats that would have allowed it to govern in its own right. The party now relies on the National Democratic Alliance and its regional parties to form a stable government, a stark contrast to its previous two landslide victories.
The present government has often been criticized for muzzling the critical media, eroding judicial independence, and using government agencies to jail political opponents. The highest profile arrest was that of Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal amongst other Aam Admi Party (AAP) members on allegations of corruption, a month before the start of elections. However, the ruling party itself was embroiled in the issue of political funding through electoral bonds now deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Farmers, especially from Punjab, took to streets in February 2024 against the government for the second time, demanding higher guaranteed prices for their produce. However, the protest fizzled out within weeks. One of the biggest highlights of Modi’s second term was kicking off 2024 with the inauguration of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya, fulfilling a years-old promise made by the Hindu nationalist party and solidifying the party’s Hindu vote base.
Magnitude of Indian elections
From high peaks of the Himalayas to remote forests votes were cast electronically across the length and breadth of the country. India’s electoral rules specify that there must be a polling station within two kilometers of every habitation amounting to over a million nationwide polling stations. The voting was conducted across seven phases and lasted until June 1. The elections are also estimated to be the most expensive in the world.High profile arrests to farmer protests: Run-up to elections
The BJP’s resounding victory in three state assembly elections in December 2023 provided a boost to the incumbent party, whereas the southern state of Telangana was the only victory for the opposition INC. Apart from political battlegrounds, various events laid the groundwork for the national elections.The present government has often been criticized for muzzling the critical media, eroding judicial independence, and using government agencies to jail political opponents. The highest profile arrest was that of Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal amongst other Aam Admi Party (AAP) members on allegations of corruption, a month before the start of elections. However, the ruling party itself was embroiled in the issue of political funding through electoral bonds now deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Farmers, especially from Punjab, took to streets in February 2024 against the government for the second time, demanding higher guaranteed prices for their produce. However, the protest fizzled out within weeks. One of the biggest highlights of Modi’s second term was kicking off 2024 with the inauguration of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya, fulfilling a years-old promise made by the Hindu nationalist party and solidifying the party’s Hindu vote base.
