Distinguished Professor Ali Riaz has published two commentaries in newspapers and was quoted in a report of the German broadcaster DW on the Indian election.
In a shocking result, the incumbent BJP lost absolute majority since coming to power a decade ago. However, the BJP-led alliance National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured more than 272 seats in the parliament needed to form the government. An alliance, INDIA, led by congress has emerged as the opposition.
Referring to the results, which now will require Prime Minister Narendra Modi to head a coalition government, Riaz writes in the Daily Star that India is returning to the era before 2014. Riaz writes that while the opposition alliance has not succeeded in winning the majority, it has emerged as a roadblock to the politics of divisiveness and hate. It is evident that a strong opposition in the parliament has emerged, and voters have expressed their desire to see a pluralistic polity in India, a past that defined the Indian polity for decades until 2014, Riaz writes.
In another commentary published in Bengali daily Prothom Alo, Riaz writes that considering the global trend of democratic backsliding, democrats around the world will breathe a sigh of relief after this election. In the past decade, India’s democracy score has dramatically declined, according to various international organizations that track state of governance around the world. Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute described India as one of the “worst autocratizers.” Riaz writes that since Modi and his party are returning to power, it’s not a reversal of the democratic erosion; but Indian voters have sent a clear message that they would like to restrain unilateral power of Modi.
In the report in the DW on the reactions of India’s neighbors to the new government, Riaz is quoted as saying said that this will not bring any changes in his foreign policy.
“Nothing will deter Modi to continue his foreign policy objectives as the Indian establishment will continue supporting his government,” Riaz said. “There isn’t much disagreement between the BJP and opposition parties on projecting India as an emerging global power.”
