On Tuesday, June 4th, ORF America hosted a panel discussion on the results of the 2024 Indian general election with the following experts:
Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director, ORF America
Prashant Jha, Washington DC-based U.S. correspondent of The Hindustan Times and author of How the BJP Wins: Inside India's Greatest Election Machine
Rithika Kumar, Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Notre Dame and incoming Assistant Professor of Political Science, Rice University
Moderator: Medha Prasanna, Junior Fellow and Program Assistant, ORF America
In a year characterized by pivotal worldwide elections, India’s general elections have left pollsters stunned and many observers confused. Leaving future predictions of the incoming government to future analysis, the panel analyzed many of the political dynamics at play during the election, including the unity of the opposition India Alliance and the use of identity-based politics concerning caste and gender, among other issues, to appeal to voters. A core feature the panel emphasized was the dynamic and complex nature of Indian democracy, which often results in unpredictable elections at both the national and statewide levels.
The panel also discussed foreign perspectives on the election, underscoring the need for nuanced and multifaceted foreign coverage of Indian politics and the subdued role India’s foreign policy plays in electoral politics. When asked to give their major takeaways, the speakers emphasized the major parties’ competing visions for India in the form of identity politics and nationwide centralization. They also highlighted the fact that Indian politics will continue to surprise pollsters and analysts. Finally, they underscored the essential gravity of the 2024 elections, which have the potential to fundamentally alter the trajectory of the Indian political landscape.
