Electoral scene

Having exhausted all normal tools, a return to power will force Modi to look for more dictatorial options. For the Opposition, if it forms the government, the immediate task will be desaffronisation and dismantling of authoritarian structures. https://thewire.in/politics/indian-politics-will-not-be-the-same-after-june-4 

Whatever the final outcome, politics after June 4 will not be the same again. Even in the most unlikely event of Modi returning with ‘400 par’, he will have to look for new strategies and a revised policy framework to survive in power. This has been the case with all those who have managed to retain power for longer periods.

In Modi’s case the ghosts of worn-out welfare schemes, broken promises and dissatisfied ‘labharthis’ could come to haunt the regime in the coming days. He has already overused the policy of hate mongering, majoritarian vote bank and misuse of enforcement agencies to harass and jail political adversaries.

However, the biggest hurdle in the way of the Modi project for a one-party, one-leader regime is the country’s inbuilt diversity. Its regional, cultural, linguistic and aspirational identities act as a barrier to a one-size-fits-all system. In recent years, the imposition of Hindi on regional languages has encountered strong protests in the south. Over the decades, the states south of the Vindhyas have recorded a better economic performance with higher human development indicators. Wide disparities exist in the revenue created by the developed states, including the southern states, and those of the Hindi hinterland. The southern states have complained about unfair tax devolution by the Centre. Such latent sentiments are bound to acquire political dimensions if the present federal arrangement is disturbed by over-centralisation of political power

by P. Raman

01/06/2024

To interpret the government’s overtly bold actions as a sign of Modi’s weakness would be a mistake of complacency and a classic error by the opposition and analysts who fail to learn from the past. https://thewire.in/politics/ek-dhakka-aur-do-what-the-bjp-under-modi-and-shah-is-doing-to-indian-democracy 

Setting aside predictions about election outcomes, it’s clear that there’s no significant public outcry, or complete dissatisfaction in the streets, against this government’s numerous transgressions. A myriad of pressing issues could have significantly embarrassed the government, including the complete disregard for serious unrest in Manipur, the border situation in Ladakh, harbouring individuals like Brij Bhushan Singh while extolling the virtues of women’s empowerment, presenting horse-trading as a legitimate political tactic to seize power with absolute impunity, and the use of Pegasus software for surveillance, among others.

The electoral bond scam is a recent and significant addition to this list. The institutionalisation of corruption and extortion, as evidenced by the electoral bonds scheme – which was declared unconstitutional after seven years – should have critically undermined Modi’s claim of ‘Na Khaunga, Na Khane Dunga’ (I will neither engage in nor allow corruption).

Yet, a considerable segment of the population, swayed by polarisation and the narrative of ‘vikas’, appears indifferent to these disclosures. Modi’s substantial following seems unconcerned about his lack of unscripted press conferences over two terms. Moreover, even the opposition parties have not mobilised public demonstrations over the electoral bond issue, which some analysts consider to be the largest scam and extortion racket in India since its independence.

The approach of Modi and his associate and Union home minister Amit Shah can be broadly encapsulated in several key points:

by Urvish Kothari

28/03/2024

साथ आ रहे 'यूपी के लड़के'... गठबंधन हुआ तय https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYEbsd3h5Cs  Election 2024

UP में गठबंधन पर मोहर, SP-Congress की हो गई डील Akhilesh Yadav #NazarAurNazriya With Bushra Khanum https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oj1fpmdv1U
DB Live

I.N.D.I Alliance: Lok sabha Election मिलकर लड़ेंगी कांग्रेस और SP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pkJOA8L4BY It is reported that the Congress high command had finally demanded only two changes on the seats given to Akhilesh. The first demand was that Hathras SP should be given back to Sitapur. Which was accepted by the Samajwadi Party. Secondly, SP should take one seat from Bulandshahr or Mathura and give Shravasti to Congress. Samajwadi Party registered its consent on this also.

INDIA Alliance: I.N.D.I.A. गठबंधन टूटने से कांग्रेस को मिलेगा बड़ा फायदा! Congress https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3ELQfSxA04  ।Samajwadi Party
Amar Ujala

Rahul Gandhi की लोकप्रियता से ख़ौफ में बीजेपी | bharat jodo nyay yatra | Shravan garg interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgUFz-jhngg

The bench ordered an inquiry against Anil Masih, the election's presiding officer and a former general secretary of the BJP's Chandigarh minority cell, adding that he spoke falsehoods in his statements to the apex court.

https://thewire.in/law/blow-to-bjp-as-supreme-court-declares-aap-candidate-winner-of-chandigarh-mayoral-poll 

According to the bench, the conduct of the presiding officer has to be deprecated at two levels. First, he has unlawfully altered the course of the mayoral election. Second, in making a solemn statement before the court on Monday (February 19), the presiding officer expressed falsehood for which he must be held accountable.

“For the above reasons, we have come to the conclusion that the results declared by the presiding officer are unlawful and have to be set aside,” the court stated.

by Vivek Gupta

21/02/2024