New Delhi: India proceeded to cast its votes in the fourth phase of the extensive seven-phase general election, with campaign rhetoric escalating over economic inequalities and religious divides.
Initiating on April 19, the world’s largest democratic exercise encompasses nearly one billion eligible voters, with the ballot count scheduled for June 4.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, vying for an unprecedented third consecutive term, leads the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against a coalition of over two dozen opposition parties, prominently the Congress party.
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“I appeal to all to vote for a decisive government,” asserted Amit Shah, Modi’s influential aide and the nation’s Minister of Home Affairs, as polling commenced.
This phase witnesses polling for 96 seats across 10 states and territories, with 177 million individuals eligible to cast their votes. Notably, a significant portion of seats is concentrated in the southern and eastern regions like Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha, where the BJP’s stronghold is comparatively weaker.
With turnout figures in the preceding phases marginally lower, concerns arise over voter engagement, compounded by soaring temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104°F) in many areas.
The dip in turnout has cast uncertainties on the BJP’s predicted landslide victory as indicated by pre-election polls.
Analysts speculate that Modi recalibrated his campaign strategy post the initial phase, shifting focus from his economic achievements to alleging Congress’s intentions to prioritize welfare schemes for minority Muslims over disadvantaged tribal communities and Hindu castes.
Congress refutes these claims, asserting that Modi’s anxiety stems from the lower turnout, a contention dismissed by the BJP.
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Despite Hindus comprising approximately 80% of India’s population, the nation hosts the world’s third-largest Muslim community, numbering around 200 million. Surveys underscore unemployment and inflation as primary concerns for voters.
Under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, Congress advocates for enhanced representation and welfare initiatives for India’s marginalized communities, highlighting the exacerbation of wealth disparities during Modi’s tenure, a charge rebutted by the government.
The opposition coalition, spearheaded by Congress, received a boost prior to Monday’s voting phase when the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi, and a prominent opposition figure, permitting him to campaign.
Kejriwal, a vocal critic of Modi, faced arrest a month before the elections in a graft case related to liquor policies, prompting allegations of government persecution against opposition figures through probes and detentions.
Kejriwal refutes the corruption allegations, while the government maintains its non-interference stance in law enforcement proceedings.
