Indian Electoral Politics: Shifting Sands
Up until 1976, seats in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and state assemblies were reallocated to maintain nearly equal population representation. But the 42nd Amendment froze the number of seats until the 2001 Census.
https://theprint.in/opinion/delimitation-in-india-north-vs-south/2589801/
The 50-year freeze on the delimitation of parliamentary constituencies—initiated during the Emergency in 1976 for an initial 25-year period—has now snowballed into an acrimonious debate between the South and the North. As scholar Ravi K Mishra’s recent book Demography, Representation and Delimitation shows, the current discourse is riddled with factoids overshadowing facts.
Multiple issues—ranging from intra-state equity and parity among Lok Sabha MPs to the Finance Commission’s population-based fund devolution—have been collapsed into one, posing a serious challenge to building consensus on this contentious issue.
Elections to the region hold significant importance as they will determine the true identity of the Shiv Sena and NCP, test the newly formed alliance, and have an impact on the upcoming assembly elections.
what we’re witnessing is an unmistakable anti-Bharatiya Janata Party sentiment. Conversations with people in western Maharashtra reveal a deep-seated dissatisfaction with the BJP’s divisive tactics. Voters hold the party responsible for the rift within the Nationalist Congress Party, and a similar sentiment extends to Uddhav Thackeray in the Konkan-Mumbai region. Interestingly, despite the party splits, a large number of the original NCP and Shiv Sena cadres remain loyal to Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray, respectively.
In Maharashtra, besides the sympathy waves after the spilt of Shiv Sena and NCP, a significant factor at play is that people prioritise local issues over national ones. In rural areas, there is palpable resentment toward the BJP, largely stemming from the agrarian crisis, fair pricing for crops, Goods and Services Tax on agricultural products, and the failure of factories to pay sugarcane dues.
by Aamir Shakil
04/05/2024
North South Divide in Parliamentary Representation - https://youtu.be/Hqm1j1zeuMI?t=164 Real Purpose of the New Parliament | Will South be Destroyed? | Akash Banerjee & Adwaith
If new delimitation is implementated: Full South India will get 164 seats where as UP & Bihar will have 222 seats
UP: 143, Bihar: 79, AP 54, Karnataka 41, Tamil Nadu 49, Kerala 20
Interview: Political strategists are overhyped, says STC Director Shantanu Singh, who scripted TDP win in Andhra https://thesouthfirst.com/andhrapradesh/interview-political-strategists-are-overhyped-says-stc-director-shantanu-singh-who-scripted-tdp-win-in-andhra/ Sumit Jha Jun 11, 2024
Regarding the future of political consulting firms, the political space is becoming more competitive. The BJP’s spread has shrunk a bit, so other parties will try to gain a better share or ride on the momentum that suggests the BJP is not the same as in 2014. This shift will likely lead to the emergence of new ventures.
One significant development could be the resurgence of regional parties outside of BJP and Congress, and their attempts to regain the power they had in the 1990s and early 2010s. In this ecosystem, political consultants will play a significant role.
Offering money doesn’t guarantee loyalty, and resorting to administrative pressure is risky, especially considering how quickly political fortunes can change.
It’s like going to war with soldiers who are ready to defect at the first sign of weakness. Instead, I approach leaders by understanding their political ambitions and offering them a better path to achieving their goals.
not every negotiation will end in agreement. Mature politicians understand that personal grudges have no place in politics unless there’s a significant breach of trust. If our interests align, we work together; if not, we move on.
Successful politicians are thick-skinned and understand the importance of self-awareness and what they bring to the table.
Thick skin is essential in any field, including politics. Successful politicians understand their strengths and weaknesses and navigate the competitive landscape of Indian democracy without holding personal grudges. Our elections are highly competitive, leaving no room for long-term egos.
Lecture on Political Implications of Elections 2024 by Prof. Suhas Palshikar https://youtu.be/xN6RXWu-I58?t=332 Pune International Centre
Jun 17, 2024
Dominant party system.. does BJP qualify for that..
After Lok Sabha election verdict 2024: INDIA’s challenge has just begun https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/lok-sabha-election-results-2024-opposition-congress-9371843/
With a truncated strength of the BJP, the politics of isolating it may gain momentum but the critical question is whether the non-BJP parties — in Opposition or in power — have the energy and will to attack the BJP on a front where it is far too strong
First, its strength in the Lok Sabha will be reduced compared to the past five years — unless it opens moneybags and adds to its seat tally. Two, in contrast, its vote share will remain robust. With a nearly 38 per cent vote share, it would be an ostrich-like response to celebrate the outcome as the defeat of the BJP. Third, in order to form the government and remain in power for five years, the party will have to strike many compromises — internally and among its so-called allies — something its leadership is utterly incapable of. This scenario will bring more intrigue, repression and revenge into our politics. While cutting the dominant party to size, the outcome may have posed a challenge before the country’s bruised institutions and blinkered politicians.
'There is No Modi Wave But...' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3qCJ62wB1Q | The Quint