India’s Election 2019: What Does the Future Hold with Narendra Modi at the Helm?

As India prepares for six weeks of voting, many analysts predict that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will emerge victorious in the parliamentary contest. However, there is much debate about the potential consequences of the election results for the country. If Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) performs well, it could continue its push to promote Hinduism in public life. Critics warn that this could lead to threats to democracy, such as a crackdown on press freedom.

The BJP’s campaign manifesto focuses on boosting India’s rapidly growing economy, which faces challenges such as low investment levels, high youth unemployment, and inadequate infrastructure in rural areas where most of the population lives. Despite these challenges, India’s economy has been benefiting from increased interest from Western businesses looking to diversify their investments away from China.

As the upcoming election will determine who will hold the 543 seats in India’s lower house of Parliament, the Lok Sabha, with the Prime Minister being chosen by the party or coalition able to secure a majority. Modi’s government has also been seeking support from the US as a way to counter China’s expanding global influence. As the election unfolds, there is much anticipation about the direction in which India will head under Modi’s leadership.