🇮🇳 Indian General Election 2024 (2 Viewers)

[Old School]

General elections are being held in India from 19 April to 1 June 2024 in seven phases to elect 543 members of the Lok Sabha. The votes will be counted, and the results will be declared on 4 June 2024.
Post all the latest news, articles, and updates here.

 

[Old School]

As India votes, misinformation surges on social media: 'The whole country is paying the price'

Researchers who track misinformation and hate speech in India say tech companies' poor enforcement of their own policies has created perfect conditions for harmful content that could distort public opinion, spur violence and leave millions of voters wondering what to believe.

"A non-discerning user or regular user has no idea whether it's someone, an individual sharing his or her thoughts on the other end, or is it a bot?" Rekha Singh, a 49-year-old voter, told The Associated Press. Singh said she worries that social media algorithms distort voters' view of reality. "So you are biased without even realizing it," she said.

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Misinformation surges on social media as voters head to vote | AP News

 

[Old School]

Low turnout, apathy in India election a worry for Modi's campaign

A lower turnout so far in India's long general election has rattled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign managers, raising into question whether his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies can achieve the landslide victory predicted by opinion polls just one month ago.
The lack of momentum has been partly blamed on apathy among party workers believing victory is assured and seems to have prompted Modi to change tack in his campaign speeches to try to fire up the Hindu majority, the party's support base, and get them out to voting stations, political analysts said.

The last major opinion poll had predicted that the BJP and its allies could win three-fourths of parliament's 543 seats at stake on the back of Modi's popularity, strong economic growth, handouts and the inauguration of a Hindu temple on a contested site in the Hindu majority country.
At the last election in 2019, the BJP won 303 seats and its allies won around 50 seats. Its slogan before this year's election began was "Ab ki baar, 400 paar" or "This time, above 400".

More than half a dozen BJP leaders and political analysts that Reuters spoke to said a lack of momentum in the two initial phases of the seven-phase election have dampened hopes of a huge majority for the party, although they said it was still likely to retain power in the world's most populous nation.
What could be affected is the BJP's aim to get a two-thirds majority in the chamber, or 362 seats, which would let the party usher in far-reaching constitutional changes.

Low turnout, apathy in India election a worry for Modi's campaign | Reuters

 

[Old School]

Lok Sabha Election 2024 Live Updates: Rahul Gandhi to contest from Rae Bareli, Kishori Lal Sharma from Amethi

After weeks of suspense, the Congress on Friday finally declared its candidates for the Amethi and Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituencies of Uttar Pradesh.

Rahul Gandhi has been fielded from Rae Bareli while Kishori Lal Sharma will be contesting from Amethi.

The Congress, which is contesting 17 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh as part of the seat-sharing deal with the Samajwadi Party (SP), had announced candidates for all the seats barring Amethi and Rae Bareli.
Lok Sabha Election 2024 Live Updates: Rahul Gandhi to contest from Rae Bareli, Kishori Lal Sharma from Amethi - The Times of India (indiatimes.com)

 

[Old School]

A resurgent Hindu nationalism sets the stage for the upcoming elections, driving communal violence

The values of secularism and religious tolerance enshrined in India's Constitution have long struggled against the realities of its demographics, where Hindus, comprising around 80% of the population, form the overwhelming majority.8 The gradual rise of the BJP, which views India foremost as a Hindu rashtra (nation), further increased the strain on these principles while also emboldening more radical Hindutva (Hindu nationalist) groups within the country.9 Among these is the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a right-wing Hindu paramilitary group that organized the Babri Masjid's demolition.10 The BJP has strong ideological and organizational ties with the RSS; Modi himself began his political career as a religious volunteer with the group.11 The mainstreaming of Hindutva politics under the BJP has increased tensions between Hindus and religious minorities, sparking a resurgence in communal violence. India's Muslim community, which is among the world's largest Muslim populations, has borne the brunt of this violence. With the BJP galvanizing its supporters around the cause of Hindu nationalism ahead of the 2024 elections, the second part of ACLED's India Elections Special Issue focuses on increased religious polarization as a driver for political violence across India.
India Votes 2024: A resurgent Hindu nationalism sets the stage for the upcoming elections, driving communal violence (acleddata.com)

 

[Old School]

With India's election in full swing, Narendra Modi is getting desperate – and dangerous

The Indian PM may still be in a strong position; but incendiary, anti-Muslim rhetoric shows that all may not be going to plan.
Driven primarily by cynical electoral calculations, Modi's speech aimed to scare voters into thinking that a Congress government would be after their wealth. Modi added that he would protect India's "mothers and sisters" whose wealth was in danger, singling out the coveted mangalsutra (sacred necklace) that married women wear to indicate their marital status. Modi's implication was that Congress would take it away and redistribute it to "infiltrators" and those who have more children – veiled references to Muslims. (A BJP spokesperson said "infiltrators" referred to foreigners, not Indian Muslims.)

This is not dog-whistle politics, its meaning is audible to all Indians. It feeds into Hindu fears and is intended to arouse Hindus: it was dangerous and blatantly divisive. After thousands of voters complained that Modi's speech violated the code of conduct for elections, the Election Commission of India sought a response from JP Nadda, president of the ruling Bharatiya Janata party (BJP).

The vehemence of Modi's speech suggests that after 10 years in power, his government is running out of tricks and wants to ensure that the BJP's core voters – angry, fundamentalist Hindus – won't desert him. Modi has "delivered" many of the contentious issues that were on Hindu nationalists' wish list: the supreme court has upheld the government's decision to revoke Kashmir's special status, his government has outlawed the Muslim practice of "instant divorce", and the Rama temple has been built in Ayodhya after the supreme court ruled in Hindus' favour.
With India's election in full swing, Narendra Modi is getting desperate – and dangerous | Salil Tripathi | The Guardian

 

[Old School]

India poll watchdog's inaction lets PM Modi commit 'brazen' violations, opposition says

ndia's opposition said the nation's election commission was allowing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to continue "unchecked and brazen" violations by not taking action on opposition complaints of religious hate speech and misrepresentation.

More than halfway through India's six-week national elections, the world's biggest, the Congress party-led opposition complained in a letter to the Election Commission of India on Friday that "no meaningful action has been taken to penalize those who are guilty in the ruling regime".

This was a "complete abdication" of the commission's duty, it said. "As a result there has been an unchecked and brazen continuation of these violations, which are now committed with impunity and utter disregard." The watchdog is responsible for ensuring political parties do not violate election rules against promoting division along religious, caste or linguistic lines in the multiethnic South Asian nation.

In his campaign speeches, Modi, seeking a rare third consecutive term, has targeted the Congress, claiming it wants to help minority Muslims at the expense of other socially disadvantaged groups.

Representatives for the commission and Modi's Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did not respond to requests seeking comment.

Election results in the world's most populous nation are to be announced on June 4.

 

[Saif]

Opposition slams Modi for anti-Muslim remarks

India’s main opposition party yesterday condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi for anti-Muslim comments in election campaign speeches that have heightened concerns over sectarian tensions in the world’s biggest democracy.

www.thedailystar.net

Opposition slams Modi for anti-Muslim remarks

India's main opposition party yesterday condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi for anti-Muslim comments in election campaign speeches that have heightened concerns over sectarian tensions in the world's biggest democracy.

P Chidambaram, a former Indian finance minister and senior lawmaker for Congress, said that Modi was playing "his usual game of dividing Hindus and Muslims".

"The world is watching and analysing the Indian prime minister's statements, and they do not bring glory to India," he added.

Modi remains popular across much of India and his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is widely expected to win this general election when it concludes in early June.​

 

[Saif]

Suspected rebels kill BJP activist in J&K

Suspected rebels shot dead an activist from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party in Kashmir, local authorities said yesterday after the latest violent attack in the disputed region.

www.thedailystar.net

INDIA ELECTION
Suspected rebels kill BJP activist in J&K

Suspected rebels shot dead an activist from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party in Kashmir, local authorities said yesterday after the latest violent attack in the disputed region.

Police named the victim as Aijaz Ahmad, a local leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who was fired upon in Shopian district on Saturday evening, days after the region began voting in India's six-week national elections.

The BJP's local office in Kashmir confirmed yesterday that Ahmad had died and announced plans to stage a protest against the attack.

Two Indian tourists visiting the Himalayan territory were also wounded in a separate attack by suspected rebels in nearby Anantnag on the same day, police said, adding that both had been hospitalised.

Security forces had cordoned off the surrounding area to find those responsible for separate incidents, police said.

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence in 1947, with both claiming the Himalayan territory in full.​

 

[Saif]

Modi imitating ‘detractors of democracy’ in Bangladesh, Pakistan, says Kejriwal

India once used to give the world lessons on democracy, but under prime minister Narendra Modi it has been ‘reduced’ to ‘imitating detractors of democracy’ in...

www.newagebd.net

Modi imitating 'detractors of democracy' in Bangladesh, Pakistan, says Kejriwal
New Age Desk 20 May, 2024, 00:30

Arvind Kejriwal.

India once used to give the world lessons on democracy, but under prime minister Narendra Modi it has been 'reduced' to 'imitating detractors of democracy' in Pakistan, Russia and Bangladesh, New Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday, reports DAWN.com.

He is currently campaigning in the Indian state of Punjab where his 'Aam Aadmi Party' holds power, as well as in Maharashtra, where the opposition 'INDIA' alliance hopes to clinch a majority of the 48 seats up for grabs from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Kejriwal claims that Modi is 'losing the election'. 'Should he win by any chance; he would have stolen a leaf from president Vladmir Putin, who has jailed his opponents to win with a huge margin.'

Kejriwal alleged that Russian president Vladimir Putin had 'locked up' various political opponents and killed others to score high at the hustings.

He termed the incarcerated founder-chairman of the PTI, Imran Khan as 'the tallest leader of Pakistan' and said he too, was jailed by his opponents to contrive his defeat.

The prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, was similarly accused by Kejriwal of jailing political opponents to 'steal the election'.

'If he wins, Modi will definitely jail Udhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawaramong, among others' he stated, whilst pointing to the opposition 'INDIA' alliance hosts, present at the meeting.

Kejriwal secured bail after the Supreme Court intervened to give him '21 days of freedom'. This permits him to canvass support for his AAP party and allies, before returning to jail on the 2 of June.

'I have to return to jail before the votes are counted' he had said earlier, at an AAP meeting held in Delhi. 'If we win, I'll be out on June 5, otherwise I am going to be in prison for a long term.'

Kejriwal and the deputy chief minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, are among the senior leaders jailed on alleged charges of 'corruption' under a 'draconian money-laundering law'.

'The dictatorship that is going on in our country is not acceptable. India has never seen such a period in the past 75 years, putting opposition leaders in jail' Kejriwal stated in Punjab.

He added that the Modi-led government was 'harassing' leaders of the Indian National Congress, Mamata Banerjee's 'TMC Party' and Tamil Nadu chief minister, MK Stalin's 'DMK', who are amongst the BJP's main political opponents.

'Put everyone in jail. Then only one party and one leader will remain but democracy will not survive. We do not have to let this happen' said Kejriwal.

He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court gave Kejriwal a 21-day respite from jail via interim bail.

The remarks come a day after the Delhi police registered an FIR against Kejriwal's secretary, Bibhav Kumar, for 'allegedly assaulting' an AAP woman MP, Swati Maliwal.

Maliwal has accused Kumar of slapping and punching her in Kejriwal's drawing room. She claims Kejriwal was inside the house when the alleged incident took place.

On Thursday, during a joint INDIA bloc press conference, Kejriwal appeared to be deflecting journalists' questions regarding Swati Maliwal. However, AAP leader Atishi, while commenting on the Maliwal assault case on Friday, said that the incident is a 'conspiracy by the BJP' to frame Kejriwal.

Atishi, in a press conference in the Indian capital New Delhi, said that Maliwal — a party MP in the Rajya Sabha — reached Kejriwal's residence without a prior appointment. 'Her (Maliwal) intention was to level allegations against Arvind Kejriwal,' Atishi stated.

Swati Maliwal insisted on meeting Kejriwal, but his aide Bibhav Kumar informed her that the CM is busy; she then shouted and tried to barge in, the Delhi State Minister said.

'The whole incident proves that it was a BJP conspiracy and Swati Maliwal was made its face to frame Kejriwal' she alleged. Dismissing Maliwal's claims that she was brutally assaulted, Atishi noted that a video surfaced on May 17, depicting an 'entirely different reality'.

In Rae Bareli, senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi braved the heat to address a massive rally staged jointly by the Congress and former UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party.

She said she had given Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi the same values that she inherited from her mother-in-law the late prime minister, Indira Gandhi.

'Think always for the upliftment of the poor, and never be deterred or frightened by anything that comes in your way to do the people's bidding.' The crowd subsequently roared in approval.

Rahul Gandhi is a candidate from Rae Bareli, where Indira Gandhi too, had contested elections. It was originally her husband Feroze Gandhi's constituency.

Rahul also addressed a big meeting in neighbouring Amethi (his old constituency), from where he is fielding an old family loyalist, Kishori Lal Sharma. Sharma is up against the BJP's Smriti Irani.​

 

[Saif]

Monks, Muslims vote to demand rights for India’s Ladakh

Buddhist monks and Muslims in the Indian Himalayan territory of Ladakh turned out to vote on Monday, demanding statehood and that their local culture be protected in the overwhelmingly Hindu nation...

www.newagebd.net

Monks, Muslims vote to demand rights for India's Ladakh
Agence France-Presse . Leh, India 20 May, 2024, 23:28

Buddhist monks and Muslims in the Indian Himalayan territory of Ladakh turned out to vote Monday. | — AFP photo

Buddhist monks and Muslims in the Indian Himalayan territory of Ladakh turned out to vote on Monday, demanding statehood and that their local culture be protected in the overwhelmingly Hindu nation.

Almost half the people in the sparsely populated, cold desert region bordering China and Pakistan are Muslim, with around 40 per cent Buddhist, putting it among the least Hindu places in the country.

Ladakhis' demands have so far gone unfulfilled by the government of Hindu nationalist Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, primed to win another stint in power.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

[TheNewb77]

Buddhist monks and Muslims in the Indian Himalayan territory of Ladakh turned out to vote on Monday, demanding statehood and that their local culture be protected in the overwhelmingly Hindu nation.

Interesting place where Buddhists and Muslims, 90% of the population, live side-by-side. In Sri Lanka and Myanmar there are often skirmishes and small scale genocides that take place.

 

[Saif]

Interesting place where Buddhists and Muslims, 90% of the population, live side-by-side. In Sri Lanka and Myanmar there are often skirmishes and small scale genocides that take place.

I am waiting for the day when the percentage of Muslim in Assam becomes more than 50% of the total population. Bangladesh has to use the Hindu Muslim divide in Assam to create anarchy with a view to annex it. Bangladesh, Pakistan and China need to work together to disintegrate India to establish peace in the region.