No fewer than 968 million registered voters are set to cast their ballots as world’s biggest election commenced in India.
The first phase of the mammoth general elections in India began on Friday morning with voters queuing up at polling booths in 102 constituencies across 21 states.
At least 969 million registered voters – 471 million of them women – are expected to cast their ballots in seven phases of voting spread over 44 days. The votes will be counted and the results announced on 4 June.
Voting in India’s six-week election commenced on Friday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the Hindu nationalist party expected to secure a clear victory.
The election is being documented as the biggest democratic exercise ever.
India, the most populous country in the world, embarks on an extensive electoral process spanning over a month and a half, necessitating meticulous logistical planning.
While voting is completed in a single day in the smallest states and territories administered by the federal government, larger states witness voting spread over two or four days.
In states with very large populations like West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, voting occurs across all seven phases.
India is composed of 36 states and federally governed territories, each with its own unique voting dynamics and considerations.
The 2019 general election witnessed a record-breaking turnout, with 67% of the 945 million eligible voters casting their ballots, totaling nearly 615 million voters.
Given the scale of this democratic exercise, India’s expenditure on elections is substantial, with over $8 billion reportedly spent in 2019, and an even larger expenditure anticipated this time.
The election commission in India has made the statement “every voter counts” more than just a catchphrase.
Helicopters, boats, horses, elephants, and mules are all used by officials to reach the most inaccessible areas.
To ensure that a 39-year-old woman from the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh could cast her ballot in the 2019 general election, five poll officials endured two days of bus and foot travel.
India’s voter turnout is quite impressive when compared to that of many advanced democracies.
There were over eight thousand contenders for the 2019 election. A total of over 2,700 political parties will vie for representation in the Lok Sabha this year.
This election holds significant importance for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He and his Bharatiya Janata Party are seeking a third consecutive five-year term in power.
If he is elected as PM again, he will match the record of Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s inaugural prime minister.
As reported by the BBC, over the past decade of Modi’s leadership, India’s economy has made a remarkable transformation.
It has moved from being categorised as part of the “fragile five” to now being recognised as one of the top five economies in the world.
The country’s economy is surpassing that of many other nations.
The government is investing $100bn annually to revamp the deteriorating infrastructure, focusing on road, rail, and port construction.
