India’s parliamentary elections are set to begin, with many experts predicting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will emerge victorious. While the outcome of the election remains uncertain, there is much speculation about what it could mean for the country.
If Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) performs well, it may further its agenda of promoting Hinduism in public life. However, critics warn that this could lead to threats to democracy, including a crackdown on press freedom.
The BJP’s campaign manifesto focuses on boosting India’s already rapidly-growing economy, which faces challenges such as low investment levels, high youth unemployment, and inadequate infrastructure in rural areas where most of the population resides. Despite these challenges, India’s economy has been benefiting from increased interest from Western businesses looking to diversify their investments away from China.
As the election unfolds, there is much anticipation about the direction in which India will head under Modi’s leadership. The upcoming vote will determine who will hold the 543 seats in India’s lower house of Parliament, the Lok Sabha, with the Prime Minister being chosen by the party or coalition able to secure a majority. Modi’s government has also been seeking support from the US as a way to counter China’s expanding global influence.