As India votes in the 2024 elections, seven alarming trends that transcend party lines threaten the core of its democratic values and reflect systemic problems within the political sphere.
Though ideologically opposed to each other both the BJP and the Indian National Congress have their symbols rooted in Hindu religious iconography. Lotus
A poll rights body has reported an average increase of 43% in the assets of 324 MPs who have re-entered the Lok Sabha elections in the last five years. The average assets of these MPs in 2019 were around Rs 21.55 crore, while in the current electoral cycle, the average asset value has increased "significantly" to Rs 30.88 crore, marking an increase of Rs 9.33 crore over the past five years. The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) analysed the financial growth among Members of Parliament (MPs) recontesting in the 2024 general elections.
The number of female candidates contesting Lok Sabha elections in India has increased steadily over the past 15 years, rising from 7% in 2009 to 9.6% in 2024, according to an analysis by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR). In 2024, 797 women are contesting, representing 9.6% of the total 8,337 candidates, an increase from 9% in 2019, 8% in 2014, and 7% in 2009.