India general election 2024: A simple guide to the biggest election of the year
The 2024 general election in India, scheduled to span six weeks from April 19 to June 1, is anticipated to be unprecedented in scale. Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks to secure a third consecutive term, while opposition factions warn of potential erosion of fundamental freedoms should he remain in office.
From 19 April, Indians began choosing a new parliament – which would remain in power for five years.
Narendra Modi’s BJP opposition
Recent opinion polls suggest Mr Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies will win the election for the Lok Sabha – the lower chamber of India’s parliament – for a third time running.
The Lok Sabha chooses the prime minister, who in turn chooses government ministers.
In 2019, the BJP won 303 seats, and the coalition of parties it is in, the National Democratic Alliance, took 352 seats overall.
In 2024, the primary challenge emerged from a coalition led by the Indian National Congress, the largest opposition party in India. This coalition, abbreviated as “India,” comprises over two dozen political parties. Prominent figures within this alliance include Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the Congress party, along with siblings Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, whose father, Rajiv Gandhi, served as prime minister. While Sonia Gandhi remains a significant opposition figure, her involvement in campaigning is anticipated to be less intense compared to 2019.
The coalition also includes the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), governing Delhi, alongside several influential regional parties.
Recent arrests of three AAP leaders on corruption charges have led the party to accuse Prime Minister Modi and the BJP of engaging in political vendettas, an allegation which the BJP refutes.
What are the key issues?
Modi can boast that under his leadership, India’s global stature has surged due to its expanding economy and closer ties with the United States, which seeks India’s partnership in countering China. Recently, he has unveiled generous welfare initiatives, including free grain distribution to 800 million of India’s poorest citizens and a monthly stipend of 1,250 rupees ($16; £12) for women from low-income households.
Meanwhile, the Congress party, in its manifesto, highlights persistently high unemployment rates, particularly among the youth, and pledges to enhance welfare benefits for women, create three million additional government positions, and expand apprenticeship opportunities for college graduates.
Additionally, it vows to halt India’s perceived drift towards autocracy. Minority communities allege discrimination and violence, claiming they are treated as second-class citizens under Modi’s leadership—a charge denied by the BJP. According to Freedom House, an international civil liberties advocacy group, journalists and dissenters critical of the BJP government face mounting harassment, leading to India’s classification as “partly free.”
Why does voting take so long?
Voting is underway across various regions of India on seven designated polling days: April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. The outcome of the election will be disclosed on June 4. The staggered voting schedule allows security personnel to effectively oversee polling stations nationwide. Millions of electronic voting machines are deployed, allowing voters to select their preferred candidates or opt for the “none of the above” option.
Who can vote in the elections for the Lok Sabha (the lower house)?
India, boasting a population of 1.4 billion, stands as the world’s most populous nation, with 969 million eligible voters participating in this year’s election—approximately one in eight of the global populace. To cast their votes, individuals must be Indian citizens, aged 18 or above, and enlisted in the electoral register, with valid voter ID cards. Additionally, the 13.4 million Indian citizens residing abroad possess the right to vote but are required to register and return to India for this purpose.
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— LOK SABHA (@LokSabhaSectt) April 23, 2024
The Lok Sabha, comprising 543 elected MPs, mandates that a party or coalition secure a minimum of 272 seats to obtain a majority for governance. Elected members serve a five-year term, representing a single constituency, with victory determined by the highest vote count.
Of the Lok Sabha seats, 131 are designated for MPs from “scheduled castes” and “scheduled tribes,” recognised groups deemed disadvantaged, constituting approximately a quarter of India’s population. Furthermore, India has enacted legislation to reserve one-third of the seats for women; however, its implementation is slated for the coming years.