Letter to the Readers, Mainstream, June 1, 2024

We are in the last lap of the 6-week long election where hundreds of millions have been voting. Within hours the last round of voting in India’s 2024 General election will get underway on June 1 and as the day ends exit polls will start coming and keep coming till the day of the declaration of results on June 4, 2024. The election campaign has been deeply polarising, and divisive and disturbingly the Election Commission of India has chosen not to take action as per due process. Some observers have expressed concerns about a wide range of violations during the voting process and fear that results may be contentious when declared on June 4th. Civil society groups and all opposition parties should be vigilant in over 200 constituencies to prevent violence and possible unconstitutional turn of events. [1], [2] Ground reports point at a social undercurrent of discontent vis a vis the Modi-led BJP Government. It remains to be seen what impact this may have on the overall electoral outcome. Many suggest that the ruling BJP may see a decline in its overall numbers and that the opposition INDIA alliance may perform well, enlarging its vote share. In the event of an overall victory for the INDIA Alliance in the 2024 general elections, there must be an active attempt to draw up a social democratic common minimum social-democratic programme for all parties adhering to the INDIA Alliance.

June 1, 2024 —HK