India Observers

  India’s  Lok Sabha Elections 2024  began with the primary voting stage on April 19, marking the beginning of a significant democratic rule process. Despite occasional violence and distress in areas like West Bengal and Manipur, the polling was generally peaceful, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI). Tripura emerged as the frontrunner in voter support, with an impressive turnout of around 80 percent. West Bengal followed closely behind with a turnout of 77 percent. In Tamil Nadu, voter enthusiasm reached 72 percent. However, some areas became prone to violent events, such as gunfire and quarrels in Manipur and clashes between workers from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Cooch Behar, West Bengal. These events led to complaints of survey violence and voter terror, highlighting the discretionary pressures prevalent in these areas. Security concerns were crucial during the elections, particularly in regions prone to violen...

  The  Lok Sabha elections of 2024  have begun, marking a significant moment in India’s democratic government. With 102 parliamentary seats at stake across 21 states and union territories, citizens are gearing up to exercise their right to select their representatives. Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Kiren Rijiju, Sarbanada Sonowal, Jitendra Singh, and Bhupendra Yadav stand as columns of their respective parties, while contenders like Gaurav Gogoi from the Congress, Kanimozhi from the DMK, and K. Annamalai, the Tamil Nadu BJP President, bring their vision to the political field. Key challenges and players in the  elections  include the intense competition between established political powers and emerging contenders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus on Tamil Nadu highlights the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) ambitions to make significant strides in the state’s political scene. The key challenge in Tamil Nadu remains a closely-contested battle between the admin...

India, the world’s largest democracy, grapples with the enormous cost and disruption caused by frequent elections. A crucial meeting in Delhi chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind marks the inaugural gathering of the  “One Nation, One Election”  Committee, aiming to address this issue. The committee comprises key members, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. The “One Nation, One Election” concept seeks to synchronize elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, municipalities, and panchayats across India, eliminating the current staggered election schedule. During the meeting, the committee will deliberate on how to handle scenarios like a suspended assembly or a vote of no confidence during simultaneous elections. It will propose a framework and timeline for these synchronized elections, suggesting changes to the Constitution and election laws to facilitate them. The committee will also address logistical concer...