We are in April 2019 heading straight right into the General Elections in India, which is held every five years and has been, scheduled to be held in 7 phases from 11 April to 19 May 2019. Elections decide upon the ruling party in India which is selected by the highest number of seats that are won by the contesting parties and their MP’s. 2018 had been a year of many political changes rearranging the stage to such an extent that the 2019 elections are the proper contest to be witnessed. The 17th Lok Sabha elections will surely decide upon the political climate of India and the future of its citizens as there are a number of issues supposed to be of importance including the recent conflict with Pakistan, GST, Unemployment and national security.

To vote is to have your say at the elections, and to do that you must be 18 years or older, a resident of the polling area of the constituency and should also possess a valid voters identification card issued by the election commission of India. This year will also feature the voter -verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) system which helps record each vote cast by generating an EVM slip and is to be implemented in all of the 543 Lok Sabha constituency and this year will have a record-breaking 10lakh plus polling stations during the elections. Considering the 900 million people eligible to vote, and an increase of 84.3 million from the previous election, 2019 is the largest –ever election in the world.

How is the Prime minister elected?

In India, the winning party with the majority of the seats gets to choose the Prime minister. At a total of 543 seats, the parties are represented by candidates in Lok Sabha, the lower house of the parliament. The prime minister will be the representative from the party with the highest number of seats at the Lok Sabha. In case, if no party fails to get a majority, a coalition of different parties can come together to form the next government. The polling process lasts several weeks altogether as it unfolds in several phases in different regions of the country. The votes are to be counted and the results to be announced by the end of May 23.

The BJP – Congress – Regional parties Test

BJP: BJP is at a crossroad, considering their stint at power for the last 5 years and seeking a second term in government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the BJP campaign on 12 January 2019 and emphasized on job creation and economic development. Modi looks to adopt a high-risk strategy as an incumbent prime minister, trying to establish fresh chemistry along with potent allies and leaders. But, this would mean BJP adjusting priorities to better suit the old and potential new allies as they can exercise better influence over the BJP government. Internally Modi has to unite more vocal right-wing elements under a new Modi agenda and help in shaping the political landscape of BJP at the crossroad. BJP has a tricky terrain to cross this election and they look to be going all in to be the ruling party once again in India

Congress:  The Congress is trying to broaden the chances for its president Rahul Gandhi to come into power by keeping him off the BJP propagated a race of NaMo vs RaGa as it feels that it would turn the fence-sitting voters towards Modi. Rahul Gandhi is pursuing the Congress’s power of committed voters to strike alliances with regional parties that feel threatened by BJP’s rise and rule. Congress’s victory lies in its ability to concede space and act peacemaker among regional parties will extent, nature and the challenge it can pose against as the opposition against the BJP.

Regional Parties: Regional parties have a vital role to play this election. The regional pride the parties induce and propagate will be asserted strongly in 2019 for the name of protecting India’s federal character. However, the biggest challenge for these parties is that they are saddled by the second generation leadership of the dynastic approach and a rebellion is usually as unexpected as can be a whisper away in these regional parties. Akhilesh Yadav, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Tejaswi Prasad, Sukhbir Badal, Uddhav Thackray, M K Stalin, and H D Kumaraswamy are among the prominent next-generation dynast that have had a good start and with efficient hand held by their leaders and now faces the credibility test to prove their individual worth in politics. The other set of parties are dominated by single leaders and are more relatively successful than the ‘dynasts’.

The Battle for Karnataka

The 2019 Lok Sabha Elections are all set for the battle of Karnataka as BJP, Congress and JD(S) are all gearing to take control of the state. Karnataka goes into polls o both April 18 and April 23, as part of the seven-phase polls as announced this year. The total seats available are 28 for the 28 constituencies of Karnataka of which 14 would go into the poll in the 1st phase with the second phase of polls followed on April 23rd.

Every vote counts the story of India’s election

The 2019 Election is the opportunity for every Indian citizen to utilize their right to vote to power their chosen government as our right to vote obligates us to exercise it. This is the most fundamental right a citizen has in a democracy and the hallmark of a vibrant democracy like India, where the voting can be done freely and fearlessly. There are false rumors of penalty for non-voters and e-voting, but as the worlds biggest democracy India grants every freedom of choice for people to vote or not at their discretion. For more info on the current issues, this election clicks here.

We know that the general elections 2019 will be crucial for the economy as well as the welfare of the people. Prepare yourself adequately, as we exercise the right to vote this year is the least we can do as responsible citizens of this great nation, our beloved India!