The Power of the Ballot

Elections in India have been a stable and impressive feature of the country's political landscape. They provide the voiceless, the disempowered and the poorest the right to vote, equally with the mightiest, the richest and the most influential. And Indian political parties are surpassed by those of no other country in electioneering skill, dramatic presentation of issues, political oratory, or mastery of political psychology. In the decades after Independence, democracy in India has been confronted with various challenges, including radicalism, ultra-Left-wing activism, external threats and the vicissitudes of the polity or economy. The year 2020-21 brought an unprecedented challenge in the form of an unseen, unknown and silent enemy, the SARS-Cov 2 virus, that had to be fought simultaneously while upholding the democratic process of elections. The Power of the Ballot narrates the saga of Indian elections with stories ranging from digitisation of voting and the constant struggle with the malpractices to holding elections during pandemic.