India's election begins with 900 million eligible voters - largest election ever

India, the most populous country on Earth, kicked off what Western media are calling the world’s biggest election, with 968 million registered voters expected to cast ballots over 47 days.

India’s six-week election began on Friday, and it is anticipated that Hindu nationalist party prime minister Narendra Modi would win handily.

Every eligible voter in India’s 28 states and eight union territories will be able to exercise their right to vote because the nation is a democracy.

The election is recognized as the largest democratic process in history.

The world’s most populous nation, India, is about to undertake a lengthy voting process that will take place over a month and a half, requiring careful logistical preparation.

Who cast their ballots?

With over 968 million people expected to exercise their right to vote in the next election, India has a sizable electorate—six times larger than that of the approaching US election.

543 MPs will be elected to the Lok Sabha through this historic democratic process; two more members have been nominated, making a total of 545 members of the parliament.

Five million electronic voting devices and 1.5 million polling booths have been placed across the nation to help with this enormous project.

The voter demography is balanced in terms of gender, with 497 million male voters making up more than 51% of the total and 471 million female voters, who have been steadily increasing over time.

India’s youth also participate in considerable numbers; of these, 18 million are first-time voters in the 18–19 age bracket and 197.4 million are in the 20–29 age group.

According to research cited by Forbes, one of the main issues facing Indian youth is unemployment.

A record 67% of the 945 million eligible voters cast ballots in the 2019 general election, yielding a voter turnout of around 615 million.

India spends a lot of money on elections, with over $8 billion reportedly spent in 2019 and considerably more expected this time around, considering the magnitude of this democratic activity.

Every vote counts

The Indian Election Commission has elevated the phrase “every voter counts” beyond mere sloganism.

To go to the most remote locations, officials employ a variety of vehicles, including boats, helicopters, mules, horses, and elephants.

Five poll workers spent two days traveling by bus and foot in order to guarantee that a 39-year-old voter from the northern state of Arunachal Pradesh could cast her ballot in the general election of 2019. Comparing India’s voting turnout to several other developed democracies, it is very remarkable.

According to experts, a notable rise in voter turnout is sometimes seen as a sign of faith in the political system and a desire for a change in leadership.

According to the BBC, studies done in both India and the US have discovered a link between strong anti-current party sentiment and high voter turnout.

Who are the competitors?

For the 2019 election, there were more than 8,000 candidates. This year, more than 2,700 political groups will compete for seats in the Lok Sabha.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gives great emphasis to this election. He is running for a third consecutive five-year term in office with his Bharatiya Janata Party.

In the event that he wins the prime ministership once more, he will equal Jawaharlal Nehru’s record.

The BBC noted that during Modi’s ten years in office, India’s economy had seen a notable transition.

What is India economy like?

Narendra Modi

It is now regarded as one of the top five economies in the world, having previously been included in the group known as the “fragile five.”The economy of the nation is growing faster than many other countries’.

The government is spending $100 billion a year to upgrade the aging infrastructure, with a particular emphasis on port, rail, and road development.

Businesses such as Apple and Tesla are evaluating the nation as a possible substitute for China as a component of their worldwide diversification approach.

Rahul Gandhi, the heir to a political dynasty, is seen by many as the leading member of the Congress party and the public face of the opposition.

India’s political landscape has historically been significantly influenced by the Congress party. He comes from one of the most powerful political families in India, yet he hasn’t yet helped his party win a national election.

Arvind Kejriwal, the dynamic chief minister of Delhi and leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, is one of the major personalities influencing Indian politics.

The home minister of India, Amit Shah, is well known for his remarkable political savvy and strategic ability.

In addition to being one of Modi’s closest confidants, he is well known for being adept at maneuvering the political system.

The South Asian country, home to over 1.4 billion people, is said to have an amazing 970 million eligible voters.

Following this first phase of the election, there will be more voting days on April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1.

The vote counting and simultaneous announcement of the results will mark the completion of this historic democratic exercise on June 4.

The significance of this historic occasion is felt throughout India and around the world as the country waits to find out the outcome.

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