Authors: Dr. Harish Kumar
Abstract: The General Elections of 2024 in India unfolded as a defining moment in the nation's democratic trajectory, revealing a complex interplay between electoral strategies, identity politics, and the evolving aspirations of a diverse electorate. This study critically examines the multifaceted dynamics that shaped the electoral landscape, including the growing personalization of political campaigns, the strategic use of digital platforms, and the recalibration of caste, religion, and regional identities in voter mobilization. While traditional issues such as development, governance, and national security remained prominent, their framing and reception were often filtered through identity-based narratives and partisan media. The paper explores how these forces influenced voter behaviour, redefined political alignments, and tested the resilience of democratic institutions. Using a combination of qualitative content analysis, field observations, and electoral data, the study highlights both the innovations and the tensions that characterized the 2024 electoral process. Ultimately, it argues that while the elections reinforced the procedural robustness of Indian democracy, they also raised critical questions about democratic deepening, institutional neutrality, and the role of dissent in an increasingly polarized polity.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16743923
