The Voice of a Nation
Delhi, India – Enthusiastic voters exit polling stations with ink stained fingers amidst snaking lines as Indians determine the fate of the 16th Lok Sabha elections in its third round of voting.
814 million eligible voters are slated to ballot on nine dates over five weeks, culminating in a final tally due May 16, in what has been touted as the world’s largest democratic election. An election sporting many firsts, India’s journey to the polls in the thick of socio-political and economic concerns is one to watch.
Lok Sabha Elections 2014 in Numbers
India will see 168 million new voters eligible to head to the polls in the general elections. The Election Commission of India (ECI) ruling that no polling station should have to administer more than 1500 voters, and that no voter should have to travel more than 2 kilometers to vote has not made this colossal task any easier.
A staggering 919,000 polling stations have been erected throughout the subcontinent to manage the massive traffic of eligible voters.
Tight legal limits have also been placed on the amount a political candidate is permitted to spend during the election campaign – ranging between $72, 800 and $113, 250 depending on the size of the respective states. The ECI reports that such limits have “curtailed some of the more extravagant campaigning that was previously a part of Indian elections”.
Who’s Who
The election is widely considered to be unfavorable to the incumbent Indian National Congress – the Bharatiya Janata Party considered the largest threat.
The hotly contested battleground is deemed to be the city of Varanasi, where Prime Ministerial hopeful Narendra Modi of the Bharatiya Janata P arty (BJP) and Chief Minister of the state of Gujarat, is challenged by Arvind Kejriwal – leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Kejriwal, a protégé of social activist Anna Hazare, became the Chief Minister of Delhi in the 2013 Delhi Legislative Assembly Election. He resigned months later owing to a chaotic stand-off in the Delhi assembly regarding the Jan Lokayukta bill – an anti-corruption bill with the power to investigate politicians and civil servants.
The incumbent Indian National Congress’s (INC) choice of fielding Ajai Rai, a grassroots politician, into this battleground is not well-received by some, who think it would result in splitting the ‘anti-Modi’ votes – handing Narendra Modi victory.
An Election of Firsts
Compared to the previous general elections held in 2009, the largest democracy has seen some firsts in this election. The transgender community in India are now able to vote under ‘others’, a category that was previously absent from the ballot in a move that recognizes transgender rights.
In what is observed as an empowering choice, voters will be allowed to answer “none of the above” in their choice of candidates. This is following a Supreme Court rule last September that voters “have the right to reject all candidates in elections”. The ECI is also exploring the means to allow Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to vote online, but are still required to travel to India to cast their votes.
The significant role of technology in this election is one to note. COMET, an SMS alert system, along with other social media outlets have been leveraged to engage urban voters to head to the polls.
Incentivizing Active Citizenry
Attempts to promote active citizenry and increase political involvement have been on the rise in the weeks leading to the polls. The average election turnout in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections was 59.7%. In a bid to reach larger audience, material incentives have been introduced.
The “Show the ink, See prices sink” campaign, launched by Young Indians, aims to provide discounts to voters. The Delhi Medical Association in concert with other institutions are offering up to 50% discount on consultations to encourage voting. Retail stores, multiplexes, and restaurants have also joined the fore.
India will see its ballots fill in the coming weeks, and the voice of 814 million voters is one to be heard.