Changing trends in Indian elections and new government

Changing trends in Indian elections and new government

Dr. Manmohan Singh who was sworn in as Indian Prime Minister for a second successive term had been a reluctant politician but a well-known economist and a former governor of Reserve Bank of India. Singh, 76, became the first Sheikh prime minister of the world’s largest democracy when the Congress returned to power in general elections in May 2004 after being in the opposition for eight years. Congress party’s facile win in this year’s election , the biggest since 1991 gives Singh firm hand to move ahead decisively with measures to put India on a higher economic growth trajectory. Singh took only a minor role in the just concluded parliamentary elections after a heart bypass surgery as Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi , the heir of the Nehru-Gandhi clan, spearheaded the party’s electioneering across the country.

In these elections 27percent of those voted into office for the first time were 45 or younger, putting a different face on a legislature long identified in popular culture with potbellied senior citizens.“We are a young country today. I am not surprised that our youth voters are impatient to change the old ways of doing politics,”—said Meenakshi Natrajan, 36, a newly elected lawmaker from the Congress Party who defeated an 82-year old , eight-term incumbent. She added that she had got a lot of support from the young, first time voters in her constituency. They want her work on improving education and employment opportunities. Of the 543 elected members of Parliament’ lower house, 147 are 45 or younger. The growing number of young faces in Indian politics marks a gradual but definite generational shift in the country at large. According to census data, about two-thirds of India’s 1.2 billion people are 35 or younger, and half are 20 or younger. It is estimated that by 2020 the average age of an Indian will be 31, compared with 37 for China and 48 for Japan. In the recent elections, more that 20 percent of the 700 million eligible voters were 35 or younger. Rahul Gandhi actually opened the gates of politics for the youth who is expected to be nominated for the prime minister’s position in the next national elections in 2014, has so far focused on transforming the idiom of the 124-year old Congress party into the language of the young.


Dr. Singh has indeed proven himself to be the king of South Asian leaders by repeating history after five decades. The Congress led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) overcame the anti-incumbency bug to return to power. It was the Congress’ best show in many decades. The party won 203 seats, a umber they passed in 1984 and 1991 both held after assassination . In 1984 Indira Ganghi and 1991 Rajib were assassinated which brought voter’s sympathy for the party. In the final tally the Congress led UPA won 262 seats just teasing short of the magical figure of 272. Its main opponent the BJP led National Democratic Alliance NDA secured 158 seats. In the last elections the Congress had won only 145 seats and was at the mercy of its alliance. This time the party is better poised to stamp its authority on alliance partners and thus it will be better placed to carry its agenda of economic reform. It can get the remains number short of 272 without any horse trading. The elections will thus bring stable government in New Delhi as political analysts predict.

In 1991 India was facing an economic crisis. Singh initiated the economic liberalization reforms program which included dismantling of License Raj that made it difficult for private business to even exist, removal of many obstacles for FDI and initiation of the process of the privatization of public sector companies. These economic reforms have been credited for brining high levels of economic growth in India and increasing the annual 2%-3% average to 8%-9% economic growth in the following years. But the most controversial period of Singh’s tenure was the time the Indian government decided to work with the US in a nuclear deal which was signed by the respective leaders in October 2008. The most decisive issues persist with regard to allowing India to maintain a strategic reserve of nuclear fuel. Many Indian critics had also raised fears that such a deal would undermine India’s sovereignty

The results have given a national party the mandate to govern the country after many decades when politics in New Delhi was subjected to the regional agenda with region based parties sharing power with a national party like the Congress or the BJP. In a manner where they could dictate many of the decisions in fact one of the most decisive verdicts of the Indian elections has been the choice of the voters against regionalism although before the elections regional leaders such a Mayawati, Bhuddhadev Bhattachraya, Narendara Mody and a few others were being touted a possible Primer Minister. The elections have thus rejected regionalism in national politics showing a changing trend in Indian political arena.

Among the other clear choices that the voters have made one is understandably for a secular India. BJP leaders themselves have put blame on Varun Gandhi’a anti-Muslim hate speech during the campaign and Gjurat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’ name came up as possible Prime Minster of India as two of them initiated reasons for NDA’S resounding defeat. Mr Modi earned notoriety both in India and abroad for his role in instigating anti Muslim riots in his province in 2002 for which he has been blacklisted for US visa by the US authorities.

The voters have taken note of the positive changes that India have achieved in the last five years and concluded that they needed the Congress for another term with a clear mandate to transform India into one of the top economies of the world. They have also voted with the clear perception that in the turbulent time through which India is passing with the rest of the world she needed at the centre a national party that would look to the outside world.

Mamta Banerjee’s Trinomul bagged 19 seats and with Congress wining 25 of the 42 seats in West Bengal leaving the left with 15. It indicates gave rise that the lefts’ decades old stronghold in WB may be fading. The voters have also unequivocally rejected the left in national politics as third force.


With an impeccable reputation of being a upright man, soft-spoken Singh, during his first stint as prime minister from May 2004 to May 21, 2009, steered the national economy through a period of nine percent growth. India’s economic boom may have slowed down a little in the wake of the global financial crisis but growth is still pegged at six percent this year which would make the country the second fastest economy after China.

Elections in America and India and subsequent change of guards in the White House or in the South Block are always important for Bangladesh in the changed paradigm in global politics ad economy. Democratic world kept close watch on the Indian elections to see whether secular democracy represented Most analysts in political and diplomatic arena, who have been watching ups and downs in Indo-Bangladesh relations over the decades, are not so optimistic about any miracle in resolving long running irritants merely after installation of the new governments in Dhaka and New Delhi. They said Dhaka-Delhi relations are always marked by hate and love and trust and mistrust. India being a big neighbour could not show its magnanimity towards its neighbours, particularly Bangladesh. Rather subtle diplomacy of the South Block always deprived Bangladesh of its legitimate share. The analysts pointed out to non-implementation of the 1974 Mujib-Indira land boundary agreement due to delay dallying tactics of New Delhi. Although Bangladesh parliament ratified the agreement immediately, India continued to delay its ratification till now on different pretexts. Some 6.5 kms land boundary has not yet been demarcated. Thin Bigha corridor has not been handed over to Bangladesh; even the inhabitants of Dahagram and Angarpota have not yet got free access to the main land Bangladesh. The sharing of waters of the 54 common rivers, including Teesta , has not yet been worked out despite series of meetings between the two countries. The trade scenario also remains grim with over US $ 4 billions gap between the two neighbours. The analysts expect that the installation of new governments in Dhaka and New Delhi will find out friendly and peaceful solutions to the existing problems between these two neighbours.


Md. Masum Billah
Programme Manager: BRAC Education Programme, PACE
Phone: 9355253 (res), 01714-091431(cell)