India is set to elect a new parliament in what is the largest democratic exercise with 970 million registered voters.
The Indian Election Commission announced on Saturday that the elections will occur in seven phases from 19 April to 1 June, spanning over 44 days.
This massive undertaking will be overseen by a 15 million-strong army of polling officials and security personnel.
Their objective is to ensure a free and fair election at over a million polling stations using 5.5 million electronic voting machines.
According to electoral regulations, there must be a polling station within two kilometers (1.2 miles) of every residence.
There are 18 million first-time voters, while 197 million young individuals aged between 20 and 29 have the eligibility to vote.
The election will fill the 543 seats of the Lok Sabha (lower house). Any party or coalition will need at least 272 seats to form a government.
The results are anticipated on 4 June.
About 25% of the 543 seats are constitutionally reserved for members from two underprivileged communities – 84 seats for scheduled castes (Dalits) and 47 seats for scheduled tribes (Adivasis).
Despite the recent passing of a new measure to reserve one-third of legislative seats for women by India’s parliament, the implementation of this law has been postponed until after 2024.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is aiming for a third term in office, with strong indications that his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the National Democratic Alliance coalition will secure a significant majority.
Women stand in a queue to cast their votes in previous election. File pic: AP
In 2019, the ruling BJP led by Mr. Modi received 37.36% of the votes, achieving the highest vote share by any political party in India since 1989.
The party won an impressive 303 seats, and with its alliance, its total rose to 353 seats.
The Indian National Congress led by Rahul Gandhi secured 52 seats, with the count reaching 98 for the United Progressive Alliance led by the party.
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Loved and loathed politician
Mr. Modi is undoubtedly the most popular Indian politician of the 21st century. He is both admired and criticized.
Supporters praise him as a transformative leader who has empowered the majority of Hindus. His blend of religious identity, national pride, and development has positioned him far ahead of his competitors.
Critics label him as an authoritarian polarizing figure, embodying an Indian version of fascism, undermining the secular institutions and traditions of India under his rule.
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His tenure has also witnessed the marginalization of the 14% Muslim population.
Mr. Modi’s silence regarding the multiple instances of lynching of Muslim men for alleged involvement in cow meat trade or Love Jihad – a conspiracy theory about Muslim men seducing Hindu women to convert them – has been perceived as tacit support for the perpetrators.
An administration that turned a blind eye to these incidents.
Whether in local elections or national polls, Mr. Modi’s name resonates throughout the country and has dominated the political landscape for over a decade.