India Loksabha Elections 2019 and 2014: 5 Differences

It is time for India Loksabha Elections 2019. What are the differences between India Loksabha elections 2019 and 2014, the last time this so-called democratic exercise was carried out?

The current election in 2019, similar to earlier ones, is not going to impact the lives of the Indian electorate in any meaningful manner. However, there are a few changes in India Loksabha elections 2019. Some of them subtle and some of them in our face. Majority of these changes are for the worse, and I can find only one positive change.

Alternative Politics

India Loksabha elections 2014 were supposed to be the flag-bearers of the change in the rotten Indian political system. Remember India Against Corruption (IAC) movement and the emergence of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) prior to 2014 elections. There was a hope in the air that there is a viable option coming up outside the realm of career and dynast Indian politicians who have done no good for the country.

After just 5 years, in 2019, Indians have realized that alternate politics was just a fantasy – a flight to fancy. Arvind Kejriwal is single-handedly responsible for trampling upon the expectations of people and destroying the future of alternative politics in India. He has made it so bad so that Indians are not going to believe in alternative politics, any time soon.

Corruption / Black Money

The fight against corruption and black money was not limited to AAP and Arvind Kejriwal alone in India Loksabha elections 2014. There was a certain Narendra Modi, with his clean image, promising the electorate that he will weed out the corruption, so chronic to the Indian governance, and bring back the black money from the Swiss banks.

Fast forward to India Loksabha elections 2019. The same certain Narendra Modi does not mention anything about corruption and black money. He has burnt himself with the demonetization exercise. In the process, Indians have realized that corruption and black money are an inseparable part of the Indian society, cannot be eradicated and is not a poll plank anymore.

National Security

This one has come out of nowhere into the forefront of election issues for India Loksabha elections 2019. There is no war or even a war-like situation as such confronting India. Pakistan and China are doing what Pakistan and China usually do, no changes.

Suddenly, one attack and boom. Narendra Modi and Amit Shah are telling, rather shouting, that India’s security would be in doldrums unless they are elected again. Hare-brained opposition parties are playing into their tactics. And, one issue which has no business to be discussed in a 5-yearly election cycle takes centre-stage – National Security.

Political parties not fighting elections

Apart from all the gloom in the India Loksabha elections 2019, this is one bright spot. It is the death of some of the political parties.

AAP, which contested in the majority of states during the 2014 elections has made a retreat. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has realized that it is not even a paper tiger and not contesting elections in Maharashtra. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is not contesting elections in Telangana.

There is every likelihood that by the time next elections come, the leftist parties of CPI (M) and CPI would have perished.

Good riddance. May the tribe of these political parties increase.

The culmination of all the differences

The biggest difference between the India Loksabha elections 2019 and 2014 is that Indians have given up on hope. Indians have given up on the idea that politics, as usual, is going to make any difference to their lives.

Indian Media has nothing else to promote/write/speak about, so they will continue talking about elections. However, the ground reality is that an average Indian has given up on the dream of a better India. Apart from the ritualistic voting, the electorate is not interested in anything that any of the political parties has to offer.

There are not going to be any Acche Din or any Nyay.

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