India embarks on the world’s largest election process with Prime Minister Narendra Modi aiming for an unprecedented third term amid scrutiny over his administration’s policies and the nation’s deepening social divides.
India’s current prime minister, Narendra Modi, is campaigning for a third term in what is being characterized as the world’s largest election. With close to a billion eligible voters, this extensive electoral process commenced with polls predicting a favorable outcome for Modi. He would become only the second Indian leader to achieve three consecutive terms if he wins. However, Modi’s tenure and his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have been scrutinized due to concerns regarding patriotic politics, a jobs crisis, and rising prices.
In specific states like Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan, voters voiced their need for change, keying in on issues such as unemployment and religious polarization. Though Modi’s administration touts economic growth, criticisms have surfaced about increasing economic strain and constraints on liberal values. The principal opposition, spearheaded by the Indian National Congress, is campaigning on these challenges, focusing on unemployment, corruption, and agricultural pricing. An electoral victory for Modi may further intensify religious divisions, impacting India’s secular legacy.
During these elections, incidents highlighting societal shifts and controversies are occurring. For example, a unique development was reported in Nagaland’s Chedema village where an all-female team managed a polling station for the first time. This move, part of broader efforts to promote gender equality in electoral roles, included overcoming operational challenges and managing logistical aspects effectively.
In other developments, the jailed opposition leader Arvind Kejriwal, head of Delhi’s government, has been accused by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of exacerbating his diabetes by consuming sweets to illicitly obtain a medical bail. Kejriwal’s party, the Aam Aadmi Party, claims this is a jeopardizing maneuver to weaken his health, part of a broader pattern of the ruling administration targeting opposition figures.
Election activities are set to continue until June 1, with the vote counting beginning on June 4. Thousands of troops have been deployed to ensure the elections proceed smoothly and peacefully across various states. The enormous democratic exercise is being closely monitored both nationally and internationally.
