May 26, 2019

India’s Elections Were A Referendum on Nationalism

located:	India
editor:	Tish Sanghera

Prime Minister Modi is back for a second term following a resounding victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party coalition. The party eclipsed its iconic 2014 showing, securing 352 seats out of a possible 542 and surprised many who thought factors such as the highest unemployment rate for 45-years and a deepening agrarian crisis may dent the party’s performance.

Voters have instead embraced the right-wing party’s firebrand politics and a Presidential-style campaign that promoted the ‘cult of Modi’. Rather than holding the government accountable for failed policy moves like demonetisation and poor economic reform, it seems the electorate has chosen a leader who will prioritise national security and panders to the country’s Hindu religious majority.

Indeed BJP party campaigners barely mentioned development in the 2019 campaign, in stark contrast to five years earlier when the party slogan was ‘sabka vikaas, sabka saath’ or ‘development for all, all together”. Instead speeches pummelled voters with a hard-line stance on Pakistani terror, their aggressive response to the Pulwama terror attack, and criticism of the Gandhi family dynasty that heads the opposition Congress party.

By fielding a candidate accused of plotting a bomb attack on Muslims in 2006, many say the ruling party has also legitimised an ideology that wants to end secularism in India and emboldened Hindu extremists.

The country saw a 28 percent rise in communal violence in three years after Modi came to power. Shortly after results day on May 23, a viral video appeared to show a self-proclaimed Hindu cow vigilante mob beating a Muslim man and forcing him to shout “Jai Shri Ram” or “Hail Lord Rama” – a common refrain for Hindutva groups.

In response to an atmosphere of rising communal discourse, Congress framed this election as a battle for the “idea of India” and its tolerant, secular soul. They also tried to focus the attention on the BJP’s governance record and mega corruption cases such as the Rafale jet deal, but this failed to resonate with voters.

Experiencing its worst ever performance, analysts say there remains a high anti-incumbency feeling attached to the Congress party, who was in power for much of India’s independence. While many of the Modi-government schemes to bring electricity, toilets and cooking gas are flawed, voters (especially women) feel the current government is visibly trying to improve their lives. They hope for further progress over the next five years and are unwilling to hand back the reigns to the Nehru-Gandhi family.

Modi’s win is reminiscent of the populist waves that elected Trump, Bolsanoro and Orbán; all of whom rose to power on anti-elitist platforms and who do not shy away from divisive rhetoric. ‘New India’ wants a former tea seller, proud Hindu and populist champion at the helm that will propel the country’s position on the world stage.

“Together we will build a strong and inclusive India," said the Prime Minister on Twitter following his win. It’s a promise many wish Modi will keep, but may be difficult for a man known as ‘Divider-in-Chief’.