Millions of Indians across 96 constituencies have begun casting their votes in the country’s ongoing general election. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third consecutive term, aiming to secure a supermajority in Parliament. The fourth round of polling covers nine states and one union territory, including key strongholds for Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Crucial seats in Maharashtra and Bihar, where the BJP governs in alliances with regional parties, are also up for grabs in this phase.
The election, which will run until June 1, includes nearly 970 million eligible voters who will elect 543 members to the lower house of Parliament for five years. Modi’s BJP is up against a broad opposition alliance led by the Indian National Congress and powerful regional parties. While most polls predict a victory for Modi, concerns among voters in states like Bihar include rising food prices, lack of employment opportunities, and slow economic development. The BJP’s campaign goal is to secure a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
Monday’s polling also marks the end of voting in the country’s five southern states, where the BJP has faced challenges since coming to power in 2014 but aims to win more seats for its campaign. In Kashmir’s largest city, Srinagar, voters will participate in the first polls since Modi’s government revoked the region’s semi-autonomy in 2019. The BJP is not contesting in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley, where anti-India sentiment is strong, leaving regional parties as the main contenders for the seats. Opposition parties view the BJP’s decision not to contest as contradicting its claims of success in Kashmir.
While Modi began his campaign focusing on development, he has shifted towards emphasizing the BJP’s Hindu nationalist platform in recent weeks. In rallies, Modi has made divisive statements about Muslims and accused the Congress Party of favoring Muslims over Hindus. However, some voters like Nikhilesh Mishra in Bihar believe that issues of religious divide will not benefit the country. Mishra highlighted concerns about inflation, unemployment, and lack of development in the state, calling for a change in government. Despite India’s economic growth, many citizens still face economic challenges, which has been a focal point in the opposition’s campaign.
As the election progresses, analysts suggest that the BJP’s change in rhetoric towards Hindu nationalism may be an attempt to consolidate votes among the majority Hindu population and divert attention from pressing issues like unemployment and corruption. Modi expressed confidence in the BJP’s chances in Bihar, indicating optimism for the alliance’s performance compared to the previous election. With the election continuing, the outcome remains uncertain, and the final results will be announced following the completion of all rounds of voting on June 4.
