The second phase of elections in India is currently taking place, with 13 states voting for 88 seats in the Lok Sabha, which is India’s lower house of Parliament. The first phase of voting took place on April 19 in 102 constituencies across 21 states and union territories.
India is currently in the midst of the largest democratic exercise in the world—a massive election that involves a staggering 970 million voters.
This election is divided into seven phases, starting on April 19 and ending on June 1, with the final vote count happening on June 4.This election is a big deal for several reasons. First, the sheer scale of participation highlights the vibrant democratic spirit of India. With nearly a billion voters, the election reflects the diverse voices and opinions of the Indian population.
Second, the outcome of this election will shape the future of the country. The choices made by voters will determine the direction in which India moves on various issues such as the economy, social welfare, foreign policy, and more.
In essence, the India election matters because it showcases democracy in action on a massive scale and has the potential to significantly influence the trajectory of the nation going forward.
Author Abhishek Saha suggests that the opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Assam is not as powerful as it once was. While many people in the northeastern state still consider the CAA an important issue, it is no longer a dominant force capable of challenging the ruling BJP party.
The Assamese nationalist sociopolitical groups leading the protests clarified that their objection was not aimed at excluding Muslims. Instead, they were protesting the denial of shelter to even Hindu Bangladeshis.
Journalists have noted that Hindu supremacist politics have now overshadowed Assamese nationalist sentiments, weakening the opposition against the BJP regarding the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
The citizens of Assam are deeply divided over India’s citizenship law, which has become a significant issue in the ongoing elections in the northeastern state. This law holds particular importance in Assam, where a significant portion of the population is Muslim.
Some BJP voters are showing disinterest in voting, according to political analyst and Modi’s biographer, Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay. He suggests that the low voter turnout could be due to the perception that the election results are already decided.
Mukhopadhyay explains that when BJP leaders confidently predict winning 400 seats, some voters may feel less motivated to cast their vote, thinking it won’t make much of a difference.
In the early stages of his election campaign, Prime Minister Modi set an ambitious target for his ruling BJP-led alliance. He declared that their goal was to surpass 400 seats in the 543-seat Parliament, with the BJP alone aiming to win 370 seats. To put this into perspective, only once in India’s history has any party or alliance achieved over 400 seats, which was the Congress party in 1984 following the tragic assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. So, Modi’s declaration is indeed a bold and challenging goal, and the outcome will largely depend on the response from the southern regions of India.