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THE IMPACT OF INDIA’S 2024 ELECTION ON WORKERS, FARMERS, AND
MINORITIES  
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Chandan Kumar
July 8, 2024
Transform!Europe
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_ The outcome of the 2024 election can be succinctly summarised as a
reaffirmation of democracy, rather than a rejection of the BJP or Modi
personally. It marks a significant shift towards a more robust and
united opposition. _

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The significance of India’s 2024 elections goes far beyond mere
political outcomes, especially for the country’s workers, farmers,
historically oppressed communities such as Dalits and Adivasis, and
minority groups. It is a testament to the resilience of democratic
forces in preventing the rise of a potentially authoritarian regime
under Narendra Modi’s leadership.

The recently concluded election in India highlighted the country’s
remarkable capacity to conduct a fair and inclusive democratic process
despite its immense diversity. Initially, there were challenges, such
as attempts by federal government agencies to take undemocratic
actions like freezing the bank accounts of the Congress party (the
largest opposition party) and arresting key opposition figures just
before the election, including chief ministers from Delhi and
Jharkhand. However, intervention by the apex court, supported by
widespread public outcry, thwarted these moves by the Modi government.
Despite early indications that the ruling regime might hinder a fair
electoral process, India’s robust democratic principles ultimately
prevailed.

With an impressive turnout of over 640 million out of 968 million
eligible voters, the election stands as a remarkable example of
democratic participation, involving people from all segments of
society – including workers, farmers, women, Dalits, Adivasis,
minorities, and affluent individuals. Despite significant social,
economic, and political disparities, the act of voting transcended
divisions based on caste, class, religion, and ethnicity, showcasing
the essence of democracy.

However, amidst this democratic fervour lies a nation grappling with
deep-rooted inequalities and pressing socio-economic challenges.
Despite India’s emergence as a so-called “major global economy”,
the benefits of this growth have often failed to trickle down to the
masses. The biggest criticism and reality have been that we are moving
towards an economy that is growing but not producing enough employment
for millions of educated young people. This becomes much more
important as India has the world’s highest population of employable
age. Modi’s government policies in the last 10 years have miserably
failed in generating jobs in the private sector and also filling up
vacant jobs in the public sector. As India’s economy is largely
informal, which means in reality unregulated, it is difficult to give
concrete numbers of how many million jobs are missing. Besides this,
persistent issues such as malnutrition, dismantling educational
institutions, hunger, unemployment, and wage disparities
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to afflict vast segments of the population. Moreover, the erosion
of press freedom
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the stifling of dissent have raised concerns about the health of
India’s democratic institutions. It is frightening to see some
leading journalists like Prabir Purkayastha and others were sent to
jail under colonial draconian laws
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as the ‘Unlawful Activities Prevention Act’. This process clearly
states that the Modi government is not at all interested in dealing
with any forms of dissent, whether it is press or civil society
movements.

During Modi’s ten-year leadership, India experienced notable
democratic movements, including the farmers’ protests
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opposition to the anti-citizenship law. These movements became symbols
of resistance against various issues such as attacks on minority
rights, corporatisation of agriculture
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privatisation of public services, erosion of civil liberties,
and dismantling of public education institutions
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However, this period was also marked by serious human rights
violations and disregard for constitutional principles. Members of
minorities faced public lynching
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violence from right-wing extremists, with little accountability for
perpetrators of crimes against Dalit women.

Workers advocating for better labour conditions faced repression from
state authorities, while civic spaces were often handed over to real
estate interests, leading to mass evictions and loss of livelihoods.
Over the past five years, there has been a rise in inflation and job
insecurity, particularly among the youth who are often forced into
precarious employment. The dismantling of public sector institutions
and the normalisation of exploitative contract systems worsened the
situation for workers and farmers. The government’s preferential
treatment of crony capitalists and undermining of the federal
structure
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exacerbated income inequality, making India one of the most unequal
countries globally.

As Mr. Modi gears up to assume the role of prime minister for the
third time within the coalition framework of the ‘National
Democratic Alliance,’ initially established by his predecessors
during the formation of the BJP-led government in 1999, he faces a
changed political landscape. While he has been known for his
authoritarianism and disregard for constitutional norms in the past,
the current scenario necessitates his reliance on two regional
parties, namely the JDU governing Bihar, one of India’s poorest
states, and the TDP, which has recently returned to power. Both these
parties prioritise secular principles and view safeguarding minority
rights as integral to their ‘social justice agenda.’ This sets the
stage for potential turbulence within the BJP, as both regional allies
hold positions contrary to the BJP’s stance. However, the electoral
mandate has tied Mr. Modi’s continuation as prime minister to their
support.

Additionally, the oppositional ‘India block’
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a robust opposition force after a decade (consisting of liberal and
centre-left parties), is poised to assert itself and ensure the
restoration of parliamentary democracy’s vitality. Left parties
only marginally improved their results
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the elections. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) won four seats,
up from three in 2019, while the Communist Party of India has won two
seats, the same as last time. The Communist Party of India
(Marxist-Leninist) Liberation
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Mr Modi, who has utilised Parliament as a propaganda platform for the
past decade, must now face scrutiny and be accountable to India’s
highest democratic institution. Ultimately, India’s 2024 election
not only signifies a political shift, but also underscores the
commitment of large parts of the nation to democratic principles and a
rejection of increasing inequality and authoritarian tendencies. It
reinforces the notion that genuine democracy thrives on the
empowerment and inclusion of all citizens, regardless of their social
or economic status.

The road ahead may become more turbulent due to the rise of regional
parties, which have shown their (often progressive) potential. Recent
election results, both at the federal and state levels, clearly
indicate that Modi’s style of governance, advocating for centralised
power akin to the American presidential format (hence a one-man rule
focused on Modi), is no longer viable. The Indian constitution firmly
upholds a quasi-federal system where parliament holds supreme
authority. Even during Modi’s decade-long tenure, certain states
challenged the aggressive neo-liberal agenda imposed by the BJP
government. For instance, the left-led state of Kerala ensured minimum
support prices for farmers and living wages for workers, while also
confronting digital capitalism through the establishment of workers’
cooperatives. In Congress-ruled Rajasthan, landmark laws were passed
to guarantee urban employment and pension rights for informal workers,
alongside dedicated legislation for platform and gig economy workers.
The regional Aam Aadmi Party-led state of Delhi prioritised quality
education, healthcare, and energy initiatives. Despite significant
financial challenges, numerous non-BJP-governed states implemented
progressive policies aimed at benefiting the ordinary citizen.
Conflicts over federal principles escalated into contentious disputes
between federal and state governments, with many labelling it as an
assault on the fundamental structure of the Indian constitution. In
essence, while the BJP government aggressively pursued an agenda
favouring their cronies, many states emerged as champions of
people-centric policies. Non-BJP-governed states are now poised to
rebuild the fractured institution of federalism, marking a positive
outcome of this election.

The outcome of the 2024 election can be succinctly summarised as a
reaffirmation of democracy, rather than a rejection of the BJP or Modi
personally. It marks a significant shift towards a more robust and
united opposition, which had been largely absent during Modi’s
decade-long rule. The BJP’s consolidation of power over the past
decade, coupled with its attempts to marginalise dissent and suppress
progressive voices, had created an atmosphere of intolerance and
authoritarianism. However, the electoral outcome signals a revival of
democratic principles and a rejection of fascist tendencies, thereby
restoring the faith of over a billion people in the democratic
process.

_Chandan Kumar is a labour rights activist based in Pune, India. He
coordinates the Working Peoples’ Charter Network of grassroots trade
union organisations across both formal and informal sectors in India._

_transform! europe is a network of 38 European organisations from 22
countries, active in the field of political education and critical
scientific analysis, and is the recognised political foundation
corresponding to the Party of the European Left (EL)._

_THIS ARTICLE IS PART OF TRANSFORM!’S ECONOMICS WORKING GROUP BLOG
SERIES
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* India
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* Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
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* Narendra Modi
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* Authoritarianism
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* united front
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