India Begins Voting in Gigantic Election as Modi Seeks Historic Third Term
Editor
19 April 2024 11:11 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Kairana/ Chennai, India - India began voting on Friday, April 19, in the world's largest election as Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks a historic third term in office on the back of growth, welfare, his personal popularity, and Hindu nationalism.
The vote pits Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against an alliance of two dozen opposition parties which is challenging him with promises of increased affirmative action, more handouts and what they say is the need to save democratic institutions from Modi's dictatorial rule.
The gigantic exercise involving almost one billion voters will be spread over seven days across the world's most populous country in the peak of the summer heat. It ends on June 1 and votes will be counted on June 4.
On Friday, in the largest of the seven phases, 166 million voters in 102 constituencies across 21 states and territories will vote.
Surveys suggest that BJP will easily win a majority even though voters have serious concerns about unemployment, inflation, and rural distress in the world's fastest-growing major economy, with the spotlight being on whether BJP can improve on its 2019 victory and by how much.
"In the next five years, we will take our nation into the top three economies of the world, launch a final and decisive assault against poverty, open up newer avenues of growth ... unveil the next generation of reforms, and take a number of pro-people decisions and actions," Modi wrote in the BJP’s election manifesto.
The manifesto and the theme of the BJP campaign is titled "Modi Ki Guarantee" or Modi’s guarantee to fulfill promises made to voters, underlining the unusual leader-centric, presidential-style pitch in a parliamentary system.
If he wins, Modi will be only the second Indian prime minister to be elected three times in a row, after post-independence leader Jawaharlal Nehru.
Modi says that his first two terms were appetizers and the main course will be served in the third term. BJP hoardings across towns and cities highlight a range of achievements including India's historic landing on the moon’s south pole and fighting corruption to woo voters.
Hindu nationalism is a key theme. Modi's government and BJP are accused by critics of discriminating against or targeting India's 200 million minority Muslims to please their hardline Hindu base - charges both deny. Sporadic violence between Hindus and Muslims continues to break out.
