- One of the beauties of the Indian democratic form of governance is the elections undertaken for various levels of administration viz. Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, state assemblies, Zilla Panchayat, Taluk Panchayat, and Village Panchayat, respectively. These elections invariably kindle a great deal of interest, enthusiasm, following, and passion among Indian citizens as political parties fight to not only capture the electorate’s attention by setting out an astounding list of welfare packages but also leave no stone left to earn their votes. The vibrancy and thriving of democracy largely depend on the conduct of fair and peaceful elections. This is where the Election Commission of India deserves special accolades for ensuring the same perpetually.
PC: Team VoI
- People closely following the fortunes of the political happenings in the country would be aware that the mother of all elections i.e. In May 2024, there will be Lok Sabha elections. Assembly elections will take place next year in a handful of major states prior to that. Karnataka, which will vote on the 10th, is the first and most important state. Of course, state elections to Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh will ensue. Firstly, all eyes will be glued to the eventual outcome of the election in Karnataka which will set the tone for the subsequent political battles. People are aware of how the Bharatiya Janata Party assumed power by luring the opposition MLAs, aptly titled Operation Lotus. Have they delivered on expected lines? Let’s see.
- The Grand Old Party has been on a slippery slope over the last few years and needs no further elaboration. Save for wins in some small states like Himachal Pradesh, Congress has failed to impress upon the electorate to choose the party as an alternative to the BJP’s relentless march ahead. However, Congress has a decent enough presence and hence, enjoys the considerable opportunity to defeat the BJP at the hustings. Remember that the BJP ran for office on a platform of anti-corruption and pro-development measures. Unfortunately, the BJP has failed to fulfill both promises satisfactorily. It seems to sense that the ruling party experiences anti-incumbency while making last-minute announcements on reservations to entice disadvantaged groups.
PC: Abhishek Chakraborty
- Yes, one of the most defining factors could be the presence of the charismatic, extremely popular, and crowd-puller Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, doubts remain about how the PM alone will succeed in altering the people’s perception of the poor governance/performance of the BJP government over the last few years. Don’t forget that despite the abundance of inducements, incentives, promises, assurances, and reassurances, people are resistant to fraud. What matters on the ground is the development and growth aspects ensuring the aspirational society’s expectations are met reasonably. Quotas and reservations can only work to a certain extent. But garnering people’s unfettered blessings demands concrete action on the ground. The results will reveal the outcome. Wait for now.
