About the political landscape
India is the most populous country in the world. Of 1.4 billion people, nearly half of the population is under 25 years old. India is a federal republic where states enjoy a high degree of autonomy. As an example, the state of Uttar Pradesh is the most populous, with an estimated 235 million inhabitants. If Uttar Pradesh were a country, it would be the fifth most populous nation in the world.
986 million people are eligible to vote, i.e., 150 million more than in the last Parliamentary election five years ago – and more people than in the US, EU and Russia combined. 15 million people are working with the process trying to get as many people to access the polling stations as possible. In 2019 the turnout was 66%.
It is India’s 17th election since the country gained independence from the colonial power of Great Britain in August 1947. India operates on a bicameral system with the Lok Sabha as the lower house and the Rajya Sabha as the upper house. The Parliament, Lok Sabha has 543 seats. During the period from 2019 to 2024, the Hindu nationalist party BJP held a majority on its own. There are almost 1,000 different parties, local, state and pan India some are divided into alliances, whereof the two most important are:
National Democratic Alliance led by the ruling Hindu nationalist party BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) with 73-year-old prime minister Narendra Modi.
Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) where the Congress party where 53-year-old Rahul Gandhi as the most recognised player.
The expected outcome
Modi is expected to be re-elected for a third term. From the interactions and opinions on the ground, this will mean stability and that Modi can continue towards his goal of India becoming a middle-income/developed country by 2047.
