India is one of the biggest allies of the United States and their general elections are set to take place from 19 April to 1 June in seven phases. The results are expected to be announced by the Election Commission of India on June 4, 2024. These elections affect India-US relations and also pave the way for future agreements between both countries.

But why are the Indian elections so important? How do they influence relations between the two countries? 

Let’s go ahead and learn more about the important aspects of the event. 

Journey of The World’s Largest Democracy

India gained independence from British rule on August 15, 1947. The independence also resulted in a partition that created two states, India and Pakistan. India, the larger counterpart, declared itself to be a republic where each and every citizen, irrespective of religion, caste, creed, ethnicity, etc., could enjoy fundamental rights and livelihoods in the country. 

Since its independence, India has climbed the ladder of success and shaped itself into a large power in the Asia-Pacific region. The country has emerged as the world’s largest democracy and is set to go ahead with the 18th general elections from tomorrow. US officials have always termed India as a “strategic partner”. 

India is one of the few nations in the world which has direct access to the Pentagon. The country is one of the few in Southeast Asia where the United States is accepted as a true friend.

The 2024 Indian Elections: Popular Lookouts

The ensuing general elections are being held in India starting from tomorrow and will continue to be held in seven stages. As the country is very large and has polling stations situated in remote corners, the voting process will be hectic to conduct. The common American voter surely hasn’t seen a more complex process than the Indian general elections.

The voting will decide who will be among the lucky 543 who will get to become an MP (Member of Parliament). For the rest, the dream of becoming an MP might come true in the future but the chances of being one in the most populous country in the world is pretty close to a miracle. The elections this time will be much more interesting than the last ones.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Here’s What You Need To Know

Ruling Party: BJP

The current ruling party in India is the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), headed by the iconic Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. Modi became the Prime Minister Of India in the 2014 Indian Elections. The whole world was impressed by his dynamic personality, which resulted in a massive fan-following even in foreign countries. 

Narendra Modi took India towards a new era of development with numerous infrastructure projects launched during his first tenure. One of the biggest things that Modi did during his tenure was to strengthen India’s grip on Kashmir against the neighboring, unfriendly country of Pakistan. 

Due to many political and non-political reasons, Narendra Modi became Prime Minister once again in the last Lok Sabha Elections held in 2019. His party and its allies gathered a massive seat share of 296 seats in the upper house. The second term was obvious, as the first term created a lot of positive PR for Modi.

The Opposition: Congress

The Opposition mainly consists of the oldest party in India, which is Indian National Congress. They have ruled the country for more than 60 years and have shaped a lot of institutions in the country. As of 2024, the INC-led INDIA alliance has 116 seats in the Lok Sabha. 

Even though the INC has been criticised for its corruption and slow progress, it cannot be ignored that all the congress governments in the past have strengthened foreign relations and have forged life-long friendships with countries like Russia, USA, Japan, etc.

Currently, Mallikarjun Kharge is the leader of the opposing INDIA alliance. If somehow the opposition manages to win the majority share of seats in this election, the most popular candidate of the party would be Rahul Gandhi, the son of the beloved past Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi. 

Opinion Polls Tell A Different Story: Indian Elections 2024

According to opinion polls, there is a difference between what political parties and the media are saying. While projections show a possible 3% increase in seats for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), it is important to analyze these forecasts carefully. NDTV’s compilation of polls indicates that the NDA could win 365 out of 543 seats, slightly more than in 2019. 

But we must remember that there is always a margin of error in these predictions, highlighting the unpredictable nature of Indian election results. Against popular belief, the opposition is expected to gain power, especially with the projection of a 35% increase in seats for the INDIA bloc. The growth from 90 to 122 seats for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led by Congress indicates a possible comeback in opposition strength.

Impact on India-US relations: Indian Elections 2024

The results of the Indian elections are very important for its relationship with the United States, a key global partnership influenced by strategic, economic, and diplomatic interests. If the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) wins as expected, we can expect consistency in India’s foreign policy. This consistency is good news for the Indo-US relationship, which has seen stronger bonds in defense cooperation and counterterrorism efforts in recent years.

The NDA’s confirmation of their mandate could boost trust in India’s stability and dedication to international partnerships, creating a favorable atmosphere for more cooperation with the United States. Ongoing collaboration on defense agreements, tech sharing, and joint military drills could strengthen, benefiting both nations’ security concerns in the Indo-Pacific area.

To Summarise

The upcoming 2024 Indian elections are very important, not just for internal politics but also for international relations, especially with the United States. Being the biggest democracy in the world, India’s election results have a big impact on its path and how it interacts with other countries. It is expected that the BJP-led NDA will win, which would mean that India will keep on following its current foreign policy and strengthening its relationships with the US. 

This stability is crucial for continuing defense cooperation and efforts against terrorism, which are key parts of the Indo-US relationship. No matter who wins the Indian election, it is crucial to continue working hard to improve the relationship between India and the United States. This is important for dealing with common problems and promoting shared goals in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. 

The whole world will be watching closely to see what impact the Indian election results have on this important partnership.

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