December 25th 2024.
In the year 2024, a significant number of people across the world exercised their right to vote in their respective countries. This took place during a time of global tension, with conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as economic struggles in many nations due to the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused supply chain disruptions and high inflation rates.
From India to Ireland, the UK to Uruguay, and Senegal to South Africa, individuals came out to fulfill their civic duty. Despite the rain and scorching heat, people patiently waited in long lines, proudly displaying their national flags or wearing clothing and masks adorned with their favored candidate's face.
However, not all elections went smoothly. Some were disputed, leading to angry protests from those who felt their voices were not heard. For instance, observers reported that the elections in Mozambique were not conducted fairly and freely. In Venezuela, the opposition presented a different vote count from the official one. Similarly, in Algeria, the incumbent won with an overwhelming 95% of the votes, and in Indonesia, there were clashes between protesters and police over proposed changes to election laws.
The year 2024 also saw a rise in nationalistic ideologies in the elections of France, Romania, and Georgia. In the latter, the president even called for protests after allegations of vote manipulation during parliamentary elections. In Russia, where opponents of President Vladimir Putin faced censorship and imprisonment, Putin won by a large margin, further strengthening his hold on power.
In other parts of the world, incumbent leaders were voted out as citizens expressed their dissatisfaction with rising prices. The Conservative Party in Britain and the Liberal Democrats in Japan suffered heavy losses. In the United States, Republican Donald Trump defeated Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, reclaiming the position of the leader of the world's largest economy. Across the border, Mexicans elected Claudia Sheinbaum, the first female president of the country. In India, the largest election in history took place, with over 1 million polling stations set up across the country, from remote mountainous regions to deep forests in Nagaland. While Narendra Modi won a third term as Prime Minister, his party's majority decreased.
One notable aspect of the 2024 elections was the increased participation of women. In over 50 countries with significant elections, around 1.5 billion people had the opportunity to cast their votes. According to statistics from UN Women and current election updates, 30 countries now have women serving as Heads of State and/or Government. However, only 20 countries have a female Head of State, and 17 have a female Head of Government. At this rate, it is estimated that it will take another 130 years to achieve gender equality in the highest positions of power. Additionally, as authoritarianism continues to rise globally, national elections faced challenges related to voter turnout, freedom of speech, and electoral independence.
Now, let's take a closer look at some of the major political events that took place in India in 2024.
The year began with the Lok Sabha elections, as well as polls in key states such as Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir. These elections had a significant impact on the political landscape of India and would continue to shape the future of politics.
The General Elections, held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1, 2024, were one of the most significant events of the year. The results were surprising, as the ruling coalition, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, did not achieve their goal of winning over 400 seats. However, they retained power, allowing Narendra Modi to become Prime Minister for the third consecutive term. On the other hand, the opposition bloc, INDIA, failed to make significant gains, with the Congress party only managing to increase their tally from 52 to 99 seats.
In Odisha, a state that has long been considered a stronghold for the Biju Janata Dal, the political scenario took a dramatic turn in 2024. The Bharatiya Janata Party saw a surge in power, with prominent tribal leader Mohan Charan Majhi becoming the first BJP Chief Minister of the state. Majhi, who comes from a humble background and has a background in teaching, won the Keonjhar seat by over 11,000 votes.
In the Lok Sabha elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi contested from two seats, Wayanad and Rae Bareli, and won both. This was a significant shift for Gandhi, who had previously contested from South India but now chose to keep his family's stronghold of Rae Bareli. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who had previously refused to resign from his post, unexpectedly stepped down, paving the way for his party colleague Atishi to take over.
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election was also a significant event in 2024. It was the first election held after the revocation of the state's special status under Article 370 in 2019. The National Conference, led by Omar Abdullah, made a remarkable comeback, winning 42 seats. The BJP won 29 seats, while the PDP, led by Mehbooba Mufti, only managed to secure three.
In Jharkhand, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader and Chief Minister Hemant Soren faced a tumultuous year. He was jailed in January for alleged corruption charges but later bounced back, securing bail and winning the state elections with 34 seats.
The year also saw the electoral debut of another member of the Nehru-Gandhi family, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who won the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-poll with an impressive 64.99% vote share.
In Haryana, the Bharatiya Janata Party managed to retain power, despite predictions of strong anti-incumbency. Their timely change of Chief Minister, with Nayab Singh Saini replacing Manohar Lal Khattar, and strategic ticket distribution proved to be beneficial.
Similarly, in Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, who had previously served as Chief Minister, returned to power as the leader of the Mahayuti coalition. His leadership and efforts to consolidate the party after a disappointing result in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections played a crucial role in their victory.
In the United States, former President Donald Trump made a remarkable comeback, winning the presidential election against the Democratic Party's ticket, which consisted of incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
The rise of right-wing populism was also evident in several elections in Europe, with parties campaigning on anti-immigration platforms gaining ground.
In conclusion, the year 2024 was a crucial one for politics globally, with significant elections taking place in several countries. It also saw a rise in nationalistic ideologies and the increased participation of women in leadership roles. India, in particular, witnessed significant changes in its political landscape, with surprising victories and defeats, as well as the rise of the BJP in certain states.
The year 2024 was marked by significant political events, as people across the world exercised their right to vote. These elections were held against a backdrop of global turmoil, with ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as supply chain shortages and high inflation.
From India to Ireland, the UK to Uruguay, and Senegal to South Africa, citizens from all walks of life came out to fulfill their civic duty. Regardless of rain or scorching heat, people stood in long lines, proudly waving their national flags, wearing shirts or masks of their chosen candidate.
However, not all elections were without controversy. Some were heavily disputed, leading to protests from those who felt their voices were not heard. In Mozambique, for instance, there were concerns about the fairness of the election, and in Venezuela, the opposition disputed the official vote count. In Algeria, the incumbent president won with a staggering 95% of the vote, while in Indonesia, proposed changes to election laws sparked clashes between protesters and police.
The rise of nationalistic ideologies was also evident in elections across France, Romania, and Georgia, where allegations of vote rigging led to calls for protests from the president. In Russia, where opposition to President Vladimir Putin has been met with censorship and imprisonment, he was re-elected in a landslide victory, solidifying his power.
Meanwhile, in other parts of the world, incumbent leaders faced consequences for economic struggles. In the UK and Japan, the ruling Conservative and Liberal Democratic parties suffered losses at the polls. In the US, Republican Donald Trump defeated Democratic candidate Kamala Harris to reclaim the presidency, while in Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum became the country's first female leader. In India, the largest election in history took place, with over 1 million polling stations spread across the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi won a third term, but his majority in parliament decreased.
One noticeable trend in these elections was the increased participation of women. In more than 50 countries, which held significant elections, there were 31 female heads of state or government. However, this progress is still slow, with only 20 countries having a female head of state and 17 having a female head of government. At the current pace, it may take another 130 years to achieve gender equality in positions of power.
Aside from gender equality, other challenges were faced in these elections, including low voter turnout, restrictions on free speech, and concerns about the independence of electoral processes, especially in countries where authoritarianism is on the rise.
In India, 2024 was a crucial year for politics, with general elections for the Lok Sabha and state elections in Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir. The ruling party, Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance, retained power, but fell short of their goal to secure 400 seats. The main opposition party, Congress, saw an increase in their vote share but still fell short of victory.
In Odisha, there was a surprise shift in party dynamics as the BJP gained power, ending the long reign of the BJD. In Uttar Pradesh, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi won from two constituencies, while Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal resigned from his post and was replaced by his party colleague Atishi.
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election was significant as it was the first one held after the revocation of Article 370 in 2019. The National Conference, led by Omar Abdullah, made a comeback, while the BJP's ally, the PDP, saw a decrease in their seats.
In Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren faced challenges as he was jailed on corruption charges but later returned to power after winning the state elections. In another important development, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, a member of the Nehru-Gandhi family, made her electoral debut and won from the Wayanad seat.
The political landscape in Maharashtra also saw a change as Devendra Fadnavis, who was the Chief Minister until 2021, returned to power, leading the Mahayuti coalition. In the US, former president Donald Trump made an unexpected comeback, winning the presidential election against Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz.
The rise of right-wing populism was evident in many European countries, where anti-immigration policies were a key part of the political platform. Overall, the elections of 2024 were a significant moment in global politics, shaping the future of many nations and their citizens.
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