Phase 5 of India election held in Gandhi bastions, Ladakh, Ram Temple town
Al JazeeraMAY 2024
Voting Falls in Phase 5 of India Elections to 60.3%
Above: Kashmiri women voters queue up to cast their ballots at a polling station during the fourth phase of voting in India's general election on May 13, 2024 in Srinagar, Indian administered Kashmir, India. Image copyright: Yawar Nazir/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
India's vast size and complex logistics require extended election durations. The current election, the second longest, spans 39 days with seven voting phases from April 19 to June 1. With 969M registered voters — including 18M first-timers and 197 million in their 20s — India’s electorate exceeds the population of the EU's member states. Voting duration has varied historically, taking four months in 1951-1952 and four days in 1980.
Narrative B
The extended election campaign favors Prime Minister Narendra Modi, giving him more time to campaign and leveraging his party's better funding. "Digital India," India's much-vaunted program proclaiming its tech prowess, could expedite the process. However, the protracted voting period benefits Modi, enabling him to travel and campaign more, particularly in states where his party, the BJP, faces strong opposition. This has significant political implications.