India, the world’s largest democracy, gears up for its general elections, a monumental event that involves over 970 million eligible voters, spanning a remarkable 44 days.

 

● The vote will last for 44 days this year and the results will be announced on June 4. However, in previous years, the duration of the vote has ranged from as short as four days to as long as almost four months.

● The election commission is responsible for ensuring that there is a voting booth located within a 2km radius of every voter.
Between April 19 and June 1, more than 970 million Indians, which accounts for over 10% of the world population, qualify to participate in the general elections. This extensive process, the largest worldwide, will span 44 days and conclude with the announcement of results on June 4.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is aiming for a third consecutive term as leader. His main opposition consists of a diverse coalition of parties that are currently lacking effectiveness in countering his popularity.
The majority of polls suggest that Prime Minister Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), known for its Hindu nationalist stance, is expected to achieve a convincing win. This outcome would further cement Modi’s reputation as one of India’s most respected and powerful leaders, according to the Associated Press.

 

The extensive duration of the election process can be attributed to two primary factors: The vast geographical expanse of India, the most populous country globally, and the remarkable degree of logistical arrangements required to enable every eligible voter to exercise their right to vote.
Over time, the length of the voting period has varied significantly. In the initial elections of 1951-1952 following India’s independence from Britain, voting spanned almost four months. By contrast, in 1980, the voting process was condensed to a mere four days. In 2019, the elections stretched over 39 days, making this year’s 2024, election the second longest in duration.
With a registered voter count of 969 million, the electorate of India surpasses the total population of the European Union combined. The election process to select 543 members for the lower house of parliament in India is conducted in seven stages. Across India’s 28 states and eight union territories, voting occurs at various times. Each stage lasts for one day, starting on April 19 and concluding on June 1.

 

In some states, voting will be completed in a single day, but in other areas, the process may extend over a longer period. For instance, Uttar Pradesh, which is as large as Brazil and has a population of 200 million, will participate in voting across all seven designated days according to the Associated Press media house.

 

Chakshu Roy from PRS Legislative Research, an independent think tank, told the Associated Press that election officials go to considerable lengths to guarantee that every single voter has the opportunity to cast their ballot.

Approximately 15 million election officials and security personnel will journey across the nation’s deserts and mountain ranges – utilizing boats, walking, and at times riding on horseback – to ensure every voter is reached.

The process can be particularly challenging. For example, in the 2019 elections, a group of polling officials undertook a four-day trek covering over 480 kilometres (approximately 300 miles) to enable just one voter in a small village in the distant state of Arunachal Pradesh, located along the China border, to cast their vote.

In 2019, officials also journeyed to a secluded village in the Himalayas to set up a polling station at an altitude of 15,256 feet (4,650 meters), making it the highest voting location globally.

Similarly, in this election, voting stations will be established in isolated locations, such as within a wildlife sanctuary in the southern state of Kerala and inside a shipping container in the western state of Gujarat.

“Going above and beyond”: Specialists attribute the staggered nature of India’s elections primarily to security considerations.

Significant numbers of federal security personnel, typically assigned to border protection, are redeployed to work alongside local law enforcement. Their mission is to ensure the safety of electoral staff and the secure transportation of voting equipment, mitigating the risk of electoral violence.

In past elections, particularly in West Bengal, violent confrontations between supporters of opposing political factions have disrupted the peace. However, the implementation of robust security measures in recent times has seen a reduction in such incidents, resulting in more tranquil polling periods.

Rajiv Kumar, the chief election commissioner, highlighted the challenging terrain of India, which includes rivers, mountains, snow-covered areas, and forests, underscoring the logistical challenges faced by security forces traversing the nation’s vast expanse. “We are committed to going the extra mile so that voters won’t have to,” he declared, as conveyed to the Associated Press.

 

Girish Linganna
Defence & Aerospace Analyst 

 

(The author Girish Linganna of this article is a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru. He is also the Director of ADD Engineering Components, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. You can reach out to him at: [email protected])

 

Views expressed in the article are the author’s own and do not reflect the editorial stance of Business Upturn.

Follow on Google News
TOPICS: Elections Narendra Modi West Bengal