Now that polling is over in the latest round of elections, with discussions being held on exit polls till such time the actual results come out, there is also need to look at some fundamental aspects of India’s election scene. Are those in charge aware of the circumstances in which elections take place in India and whether improvements are needed to make them more representative of people’s opinions, rather than just triggered responses during election time? Are mere technological advances and better voting facilities enough to ensure better democratic functioning? Is there not the need to make the electorate more aware of its responsibilities beyond just acting on the basis of unconscious programming of the mind?
For this it is necessary to examine the key drivers of voter behaviour that have been identified by experts. There is, for instance, Identity & Caste Politics. Caste remains a central pillar, with parties increasingly using sophisticated “caste equations” to mobilise specific Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Dalit communities. There is, of course, Performance & Governance. Incumbents are increasingly judged on “zero tolerance” towards crime and the delivery of welfare schemes, though anti-incumbency remains a potent force in state-level contests. ‘Bulldozer’ action seems to be having a greater impact as the days go by.
It is also important to note that Digital Mobilisation is acquiring a greater role, with its spread right down to the grassroots. The use of AI-generated deep-fakes, social media micro-targeting, and influencer-led campaigns has transformed how manifestos and narratives are distributed.
In this context, the Critical Challenges & Reforms include – One Nation, One Election: A high-level committee recently recommended phased implementation of simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies to reduce costs and administrative burden. Money Power has always influenced elections. The 2024 Lok Sabha Elections were estimated to be the most expensive in history, costing approximately Rs 1,00,000 crore. When and how will the impact of this be reduced?
A major upcoming challenge is the potential redrawing of constituency boundaries (delimitation) after the next Census, which may shift political power from southern states (with lower population growth) to northern states. Also, internal migrants often face “systemic exclusion” as voter registration remains tied to their place of ordinary residence, prompting calls for remote voting technology.
If Parliament and politicians honestly get down to implementing the reforms necessary to address these issues, India will enter the next phase of representative democracy. Politicians need to realise that reliance solely on the traditional practices will inevitably render them out of date. As such, they should participate in the required change to stay relevant.
