With the announcement of poll schedule for the 2024 parliamentary election, there is palpable excitement and expectation amongst the countrymen about the shape of things to happen in India after the results of the election would be announced. There is also speculation abroad about the future course of developments in India.

With around 970 million people in India registered as voters , the forthcoming 2024 election would go down in history as the largest democratic election exercise in the world. It is expected that the polls would be conducted with reasonable level of fairness, dignity and with people’s enthusiastic participation , as the process of conducting elections in India over the last several decades have attained certain level of perfection.

What is unique about this forthcoming election in India is that the poll theme has been focused on one person namely Mr. Narendra Modi, who has been the Prime Minister for the last ten years. Never before has this happened to such an extent in the national elections in India , when an individual leader has become the focus point for the people to vote for him or vote against him.

There is no serious disagreement amongst the independent and discerning observers that under Mr. Modi’s leadership, there have been considerable achievements in industrial and economic front in India.

At the same time , no one can miss the fact that there have been visible efforts by Mr,. Modi to prioritise historical traditions , culture and value system of Hindu religion . With more than 75% of Indian population being Hindus , there is broad approval to Mr. Modi’s focus on further highlighting the ethos and practices of Hindu religion.

Of course, the concept of secularism is now subjected to closer scrutiny in India.

Modi’s leadership to show himself as a Hindu at every opportunity has been questioned by opposition political parties , calling him as non secular. The opening of Ram temple in Ayodhya with much fanfare and with Mr. Modi personally acting as chief priest and his participation in inauguration of a massive temple in UAE have been criticised by some opposition parties in India and they have........

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