The 2019 Parliamentary Elections in India : Democracy at the Crossroads?

Cover Endorsement Page Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents List of Figures List of Tables Foreword by Aurel Croissant Global Democracy at the Crossroads? India’s Democracy at the Crossroads? Electoral Politics in India A Disembedded Electoral Regime? Outlook Note References Preface List of Abbreviations List of Contributors Part I: Introduction Chapter 1: Elections, Parties and Democratic Deepening in Transitional Societies: India’s Parliamentary Elections of 2019 and Their Aftermath Elections and Democratic Deepening: A Conundrum Agency, Electoral Democracy, Political Power and Legitimacy in India The Context of 2019 and Its Aftermath The Significance of 2019: Rebels into Stakeholders Structure of the Book Conclusion Notes References Chapter 2: Party Competition, the Electoral Process and Political Transaction: The Deepening of Democracy in India India’s Dynamic, Neo-institutional Model of Governance Parties, Elections, and Democracy: A Synergetic Triad Electoral Politics, a Bargaining Political Culture, and Legitimacy in India Elections and the Party System Competing Models of Electoral Politics in India and the Quest for A New Framework The Strategic Repertoire of the Indian Voter The ‘Catch all Tendency’ and A Transactional Model of Electoral Democracy Electoral Mobilisation, Campaign Cash and Decline of a Hierarchical Social Order Conclusion Notes References Part II: Elections and Parties in India: A Macro-Political View Chapter 3: The Party System in India: Ideological Spectrum and Structure of Competition Ideological Spectrum Structure of Competition National and Regional Parties in Parliament References Chapter 4: Critical Realignment and Democratic Deepening: The Parliamentary Elections of 2014 and 2019 in India Locating the 2014 and the 2019 Elections Voter Turnout Vote Shares and Swings The BJP: Readjustment and Reorientation The Manifesto: Good Governance and Hindutva The Campaign, Candidates, and Constituencies The Durability of Change Social, Economic, and Political Change The Congress Party: A Spent Force? Conclusion: Looking at the Long Term Notes References Chapter 5: The 17th Lok Sabha Elections and the Dismal Performance of the Indian National Congress: In ‘Recuperating’ Hibernation or Terminal Decline? The Electoral Performance of the Congress Hibernation or Terminal Decline? A Structural Impasse Organizational Structure of the Party Organizational Flaws: Factional Politics Rise of Splinters Leadership Crisis Run-of-the-Mill Campaign The Party and Its Relationship with State Units Ideology and Policy Reorientation: Conflict Between Market Reforms and Welfare Policies Dwindling Social Support Base Shrinking Geographical Base B Contextual Factors Delinking of National and State Elections The Changing Nature of Indian Federalism Conclusion Note References Chapter 6: Party Politics in India since the 2014 General Elections: BJP Dominance and the Making of the Fourth Party System The Making of BJP Dominance: The 2014 General Elections and Assembly Elections since 2014 until March 2019 Context Leading up to the 2014 General Elections The Rise of the BJP in the 2014 General Elections The Rise of the BJP in the Assembly Elections Between May 2014 until April 2019 The 2019 Elections and the Consolidation of the Fourth Party System Situating the Fourth Party System or India’s Third Dominant Party System: A Longitudinal Perspective Conclusion: India and the Fourth Party System Appendix Notes References Part III: View from India’s Regions Chapter 7: The Decline of the Left in West Bengal: A Strange Identity Turn, and Bengali Exceptionalism Identity Politics: Strange, Bad? Sinews of the Left’s Electoral Struggle Social Demographics of West Bengal Results and Analysis Conclusion Acknowledgements Notes References Chapter 8: Leadership, Welfare, and Fluctuating Electoral Fortunes: A Diachronic Analysis of Two Elections in Delhi, 2019 and 2020 Explaining the BJP Victory Party Identification as the Frame of Analysis Comparing Electoral Outcome in the Outlier States Changed Narrative in Delhi's 2020 Elections Conclusion: What Matters – Leadership or Welfare? References Chapter 9: The Electoral Politics and Regional Dynamics of a Hill State 1 : The Lok Sabha Elections of 2019 in Uttarakhand in Retrospect The Creation of Uttarakhand Revisited Uttarakhand: The Electoral Region Electoral History of the Hill State: The First Decade (2000–2012) Voter Turnout and Electoral Participation: Lok Sabha Elections, 2014 and 2019 Development – an Issue that mattered The BJP's Sweep and Modi's Leadership Uttarakhand Post-Poll Analysis of Vote by Social Background: NES 2019 Analysing the Congress Setback Conclusion Notes References Chapter 10: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the 2019 Elections in Odisha: Towards a Political Alternative The election results of 2019 The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Centralisation of Power Party Organisation Promises and Achievements Naveen's Exemplary Disaster Management Record The Development Record of BJD Different Alternative – An in-Depth Analysis Conclusion Notes References Weblinks Part IV: The Electoral Process and Indian Society Chapter 11: An Appraisal of Women’s Rights Discourse in the Election Manifestoes of the Bharatiya Janata Party Discourse on Women's Rights in the Manifestoes of the BJP Social Empowerment Economic Empowerment Political and Legal Empowerment Support for the Uniform Civil Code Discourse of Morality and the Strong Hindu Woman From ‘Matri Shakti’ to ‘Nari Shakti’ Queer Question A Relative Scrutiny of Early Nationalist Discourse and the Gender Discourse of the Bharatiya Janata Party Conclusion Notes References Chapter 12: Does the Muslim Vote Matter?: The Parliamentary Elections of 2019 and its Aftermath Muslim Presence Muslim Representation Muslim Participation Conclusion Notes References Chapter 13: Continuity and Change in Electoral Campaigns, Media and Competing Issues: Parliamentary Elections of 2014 and 2019 Election Campaigning: Theory The Context of Parliamentary Elections, 2014: Explanations Campaigning Issues: Development and Nationalism Campaigning Style Mega Rallies in Cities Electoral Slogans – A sequel The Internet and Social Media Conclusion Notes References Chapter 14: The BJP’s Electioneering Strategy and Use of Social Media in 2019: Creating a New Public? The Growth of Social Media in India The BJP’s 2014 Election Strategy Projecting an Assertive Leader Modi as the Decisive Leader Development as the Central Plank Courting the Regional Parties targeting their Support Base The Curtain Raiser of Social Media Usage The Mandate of 2014: BJP's Unprecedented Success The Uphill Task of Being Re-elected; The 2019 Electoral Strategy The “New Public” Creating the Persona: Brand Modi Comprehensive Campaign: Creating A “New Public” The Media Army and Political Messaging Rationalizing Support: The New Echo Chambers? Centralised Campaign and the Primacy of National Issues Highlighting of Achievements Symbolism and Sentimentalisation of the National Concluding Remarks: New Public in New Media Notes References Part V: Epilogue Chapter 15: Beyond the Parliamentary Elections of 2019: India’s Middle Democracy Trap The Electoral Process and Democratic Deepening Structure vs. Agency: Huntington redux ? Four Factors that Make Indian Democracy Work The Electoral Process and Consolidation of Indian Democracy The Hiatus of Efficacy and Trust Some General Implications of the Indian Case Soft State, Competitive Elections, and India's Middle Democracy Trap Beyond India: Electoral Politics and Democracy in Transitional Societies Conclusion Notes References Index "This book presents a comprehensive overview of India's electoral democracy and political system. It provides an in-depth analysis of the 2019 Parliamentary elections to explore three crucial facts of India's political life: the legitimacy of political competition as the only basis of power; elections as the only legitimate basis of political competition; and, political parties as the only legitimate agency to conduct political competition. The book argues that the vitality and resilience of India's electoral democracy remains high owing to large mass participation in elections that are competitive and relatively free and fair. The volume includes key theoretical, empirical, and comparative perspectives on parties and elections from experts, and covers all major political parties of India, along with the performance of many representative regional parties. It discusses themes such as elections and party competition in India; ideology, interest, religion and gender as they affect social mobilisation and political transaction; economic and politial change, and multiparty democracy; the dynamics of the Muslim vote; fluctuating electoral fortunes; and electoral campaigns and role of social media. This book will be an essential read for scholars and researchers of political science, political sociology, election studies, Indian politics, South Asian politics, and South Asian studies. It will also interest those in politics, public policy and governance, civil society organisations, media and journalism, and the general reader"-- Provided by publisher