The 2024 Indian General elections will start on April 19, 2024 and end on June 4, 2024 when the results are announced. Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) can vote in the 2024 Indian General elections through the following process:
- NRIs need to register themselves as voters by filling out Form 6A, either online or by submitting a physical copy to the Electoral Registration Officer. This form requires providing a recent passport photo, self-attested copies of relevant passport pages, and visa endorsement.
- After submitting Form 6A, a booth-level officer will visit the address listed on the NRI’s passport to verify the documents. If no family member is available, the documents will be verified through the concerned Indian mission.
- Once registered, NRI voters can cast their vote in person at the designated polling station in their registered constituency on the day of voting. They will need to present their original passport as identification.
- There are also provisions for NRIs to vote by proxy, where they can authorize an eligible voter residing in India to cast the vote on their behalf. However, the detailed guidelines for proxy voting are still awaited1.
- The government is also piloting an e-postal ballot system to allow NRIs to vote remotely, but this is not yet fully implemented for the 2024 elections1.
In summary, the 2024 Indian General elections will be held in 7 phases from April 19 to June 4, 2024, and NRIs can participate by registering as voters using Form 6A and casting their vote in person at their designated polling station
The top election issues in India’s 2024 general election appear to be:
- The economy and unemployment: The search results mention that the unemployment rate in India stood at over 7% in March 2024, and many young voters are concerned about finding stable employment. This seems to be a key issue for voters.
- Attacks on religious minorities and democratic backsliding: The results note that critics accuse Prime Minister Modi and the BJP of undermining India’s secular democracy and democratic freedoms, with a crackdown on media and civil liberties. This is a major concern for opposition parties and voters.
- Corruption and lack of accountability: Many voters, across age groups, express disillusionment with the political class and desire to see more honesty, ethical behavior, and accountability from politicians. The use of electoral bonds to funnel anonymous corporate donations to the BJP is a source of controversy.
- Caste and religious affiliations: Historically, voting patterns in India have been influenced by caste and religious identities. The BJP has tried to broaden its appeal beyond its traditional upper-caste Hindu base, while opposition parties also rely on their own caste and religious vote banks.
In summary, the key election issues appear to be the economy and jobs, protection of minority rights and democratic freedoms, tackling corruption, and the role of identity politics – all of which will shape the contest between the ruling BJP and the opposition alliance.
- According to an opinion poll, the BJP-led NDA is projected to win around 399 out of 543 Lok Sabha seats, or almost 75% of the seats. 1
- In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP and its allies are expected to win 76 out of 80 seats, while the opposition Samajwadi Party is projected to win just 4 seats. 23
- However, the BJP is expected to fare worse in southern states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, where regional and opposition parties like DMK, UDF, TDP, YSRCP and BJD are projected to make gains.
- Overall, while the BJP-led NDA is still expected to win a comfortable majority, it may fall short of the 400+ seat “dream” target that Prime Minister Modi had set. The opposition I.N.D.I.A alliance is expected to put up a stronger fight, especially in the south.
- The BJP-led NDA coalition is likely to emerge victorious in the 2024 Indian general election, but may face some setbacks in southern India compared to its dominant performance in the north and center of the country.
The key choices in the 2024 Indian general election appear to be:
- The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The NDA is projected to win around 399 out of 543 Lok Sabha seats, or almost 75% of the seats. 14
- The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A.), a new opposition coalition comprising the Indian National Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Trinamool Congress, and other regional parties. The opposition alliance is expected to put up a stronger fight, especially in southern India, compared to previous elections. 35
- Other regional and state-level parties that are not part of the major alliances, such as the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in Telangana, the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, and the Biju Janata Dal in Odisha. These parties may play a role in shaping the electoral outcome in their respective states. 23
The main choice for Indian voters in the 2024 general election appears to be between the incumbent BJP-led NDA coalition and the newly formed I.N.D.I.A. opposition alliance, with some influence from regional parties in certain states. The election is expected to be a closely watched and hard-fought contest.
