Editorial

Bangladesh is witnessing a historic student upheaval. What triggered the unrest was a High Court verdict restoring the old quota system in government jobs, but what has evidently led to the intensification of the movement and its spread like a wild fire across university campuses and district towns of Bangladesh is the government's attempt to suppress the movement by unleashing state terror and extra-judicial violence.

When thirteen Assembly seats go for by-polls just a few weeks after the Lok Sabha elections and the BJP manages only a couple of narrow wins, the by-poll results can surely be seen as a reconfirmation of the 2024 mandate. The results acquire added significance in view of the Modi regime's arrogant rejection of the spirit of the mandate as reflected in the attitude and announcements of the government and the renewed spate of mob lynchings and bulldozer demolitions aimed at intimidating the people.

In April and May 2024 it was testing time for India and the world was watching us. On 4 June as the BJP juggernaut was stopped at 240, democracy lovers across the world heaved a mild sigh of relief. But just when India seemed to have succeeded in pushing the fascist forces back at least partially, elections to the European Parliament recorded a major surge of the xenophobic far-right in country after country.

Political observers have often characterised the first ten years of the Modi government as an undeclared Emergency. With the coming into force of the three new criminal codes, that state of Emergency has now been institutionalised. The three codes replacing the Indian Penal Code 1860, Criminal Procedure Code 1973 and Indian Evidence Act 1872 were passed hurriedly in Parliament without any serious debate or parliamentary scrutiny on 20-21 December 2023 when almost the entire Opposition was suspended by the Speaker.

A weakened government back in office and a stronger and more energised opposition to take it on in Parliament. The net outcome of the 2024 elections can perhaps be seen only as a modest pro-opposition tilt in the balance of forces. In a functional democracy it should mean a restrained executive and consequently a restored political equilibrium in society and governance. But parliamentary democracy in India in 2024 is anything but functional. Relentless erosion of democracy has been the new normal in Modi's India since 2014.

On 4th June, 2024, as the outcome of the 18th Loksabha election was being broadcast, the future of 24 lakhs NEET aspirants was declared to be marred in yet another corruption. The results of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) that is held for admission to MBBS, Dental and Ayush courses in the medical colleges throughout the country were declared on the same day as Loksabha election results, so that the former does not attract any media attention.

Against the spirit of the 2024 Mandate, the BJP-led NDA continues to hold on to power, thanks to the crucial support extended by two key allies, TDP from Andhra Pradesh and JDU from Bihar. Narendra Modi is back as Prime Minister for his consecutive third term. Back with him as his number two is Amit Shah. Most other key members of Modi 2.0 are also back, largely with their erstwhile ministerial portfolios.

Democracy in India received a powerful and much-needed shot in the arm in the 2024 elections. It was an election in which no Modi jumla worked, and the BJP found itself almost clueless in the face of a massive assertion of the people's core agenda of livelihood and liberties and determination to save the Constitution and the rich diversity of India.

The 2024 LS elections are drawing to a close. Regardless of the eventual outcome which we will know on June 4, the common people of India have already achieved a major victory in these elections. The ruling BJP, flush with funds and equipped with massive propaganda power and administrative backing, has been left bereft of any effective jumla or talking point.

Two months ago, the Election Commission of India had announced the poll schedule with grand assurances of free and fair elections and strict enforcement of the model code of conduct. The ECI has already failed the model code test with its refusal to take any action on complaints of brazen and repeated violation of the model code by the Prime Minister and other senior leaders of the BJP. But now the ECI's reluctance to come clean with the voter turnout data has cast the biggest shadow on the ongoing electoral battle.