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The <keyword id="19895876" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Election-Commission-of-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Election Commission of India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Election Commission of India">Election Commission of India</keyword> (ECI) has officially announced the schedules for the upcoming Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, setting the stage for crucial state elections next month. Here’s what voters in these states can expect: <h2>Maharashtra: Single-phase voting on November 20</h2>Maharashtra will head to the polls in a single phase on November 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23. This election will see a high-stakes contest between two major coalitions: the <keyword id="19924537" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maha-Vikas-Aghadi" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Maha Vikas Aghadi" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Maha Vikas Aghadi">Maha Vikas Aghadi</keyword> (MVA) and the <keyword id="21555670" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maha-Yuti-Alliance" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Maha Yuti Alliance" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Maha Yuti Alliance">Maha Yuti Alliance</keyword>. The MVA consists of <keyword id="19905331" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uddhav-Thackeray" source="keywords">Uddhav Thackeray</keyword>'s Shiv Sena (UBT), the <keyword id="19895371" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Congress" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Congress">Congress</keyword>, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) under Sharad Pawar. Meanwhile, the Maha Yuti Alliance brings together the <keyword id="19931558" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharatiya-Janata-Party" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bharatiya Janata Party" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Bharatiya Janata Party">Bharatiya Janata Party</keyword> (BJP), Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, and the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP. This intense battle for control over the 288-seat Maharashtra Assembly follows the end of the current term on November 26. The model code of conduct has come into immediate effect in Maharashtra, guiding political parties on appropriate campaigning practices and ensuring fair elections. <h2>Jharkhand: Two-phase voting on November 13 and 20</h2>In Jharkhand, voting will occur in two phases: the first on November 13 and the second on November 20. The results will be declared on November 23, alongside Maharashtra’s. This election focuses on the 81-seat Assembly, with a fierce competition expected between the ruling <keyword id="20028356" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jharkhand-Mukti-Morcha" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Jharkhand Mukti Morcha" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Jharkhand Mukti Morcha">Jharkhand Mukti Morcha</keyword> (JMM)-Congress alliance and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which includes the BJP, All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), and Janata Dal (United). Jharkhand’s current Assembly term expires on January 5, 2025. The elections will feature 29,562 polling stations across urban and rural areas to accommodate the state’s 2.6 crore registered voters. This diverse electorate includes 66.84 lakh young voters and 11.84 lakh first-time voters, with special arrangements for 3.67 lakh persons with disabilities. <h2>Pre-election preparations</h2>The ECI’s preparations for the elections began in September, with teams visiting both states to assess readiness. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, alongside Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, met with local officials, district collectors, and political representatives to evaluate logistical arrangements and security measures. In Maharashtra, the Maha Yuti Alliance and the MVA have been ramping up their efforts to secure <keyword id="23060079" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="voter-support" source="keywords">voter support</keyword> in what is expected to be a dramatic electoral showdown. In Jharkhand, the ruling JMM, which is part of the INDIA bloc, is eyeing another term despite recent controversies surrounding Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who faced legal challenges earlier this year. The JMM-Congress-RJD alliance remains strong, as the party is expected to contest all 81 seats in the Assembly. (With inputs from agencies)

ECI Announces election schedules for Maharashtra and Jharkhand; both states to vote in November

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Pandemic-fueled inflation seems to be spurring voters to kick out leaders.</li><li>Incumbent governments have been punished in Britain, France, India, Japan, South Korea, and elsewhere.</li></ul>From London to Tokyo, Seoul to Cape Town, 2024 has been a year of sharp election swings. Now you can add Washington D.C. to the list.Donald Trump soundly beat Democrat VP Kamala Harris in the US election, faring better than in 2020 in virtually every part of the country and with nearly all demographic groups. The near-universal shift away from Democrats echoes voters' <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/voters-world-elections-against-ruling-parties-analysis-2024-7">rejection of incumbent political parties</a> across the world this year.The US vice president's late substitution for Biden as the Democratic candidate, and her decision to embrace his policies instead of distancing herself from them, meant she <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/harris-lost-biden-unpopularity-trump-election-2024-11">effectively ran as an incumbent</a>.In contrast, Trump's defeat in the 2020 presidential election race enabled him to run as a "change candidate" this cycle and promise to disrupt the status quo.<h2 id="4f519aa6-7d08-4663-8d7f-8e62f03fcb58">Voter backlash</h2>Analysts have <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-election-win-analysis-harris-immigration-abortion-economy-musk-2024-11">proposed many theories</a> as to why Harris lost, ranging from her gender and race, to her failure to reach out to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/election-musk-cuban-trump-meme-stocks-gamestop-dogecoin-crypto-markets-2024-11">young men</a>, to her support of Israel's war with Gaza, to her campaign focusing too much on reproductive rights and preserving democracy and too little on immigration and the economy.But from a global perspective, it's little surprise she lost given how many incumbent governments on both the right and the left have received a drubbing this year. Here are just a few of them:<ul><li>Britain's Labour Party <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uk-labour-party-back-in-power-rishi-sunak-concede-defeat-2024-7">ousted</a> the Conservative Party, or Tories, this summer.</li><li>France's National Rally party <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/france-elections-far-right-macron-le-pen-bardella-2024-6">secured</a> more seats in the country's assembly than in 2022.</li><li>Japan's Liberal Democratic Party <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/japan-prime-minister-shigeru-ishiba-shake-up-us-military-pact-2024-9">ceded</a> its parliamentary majority this fall.</li><li>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/indian-election-results-shocking-blow-narendra-modi-2024-6">lost</a> his majority against expectations, forcing him to form a coalition government.</li><li>South Korea's Democrat Party snagged a majority in the country's legislature.</li><li>South Africa's African National Congress (ANC) party lost its majority.</li></ul>Moreover, the incumbent US party has now lost three consecutive presidential elections for the first time in more than a century, Jim Reid, a research strategist at Deutsche Bank, said in a note this week.<h2 id="0e2b6ba9-92e6-4498-aadc-0fbc022d984f">Paying the price</h2><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/investing/what-is-inflation">Inflation</a> has been a key driver of the voter backlash. Prices of food, fuel, housing, and other essentials took off during the pandemic as governments spent heavily and lockdowns snarled global supply chains. In the US, inflation hit a 40-year high of more than 9% in early 2022 and was still above the Federal Reserve's 2% target this September."Trump's victory is the most powerful example this year of a political and economic environment that has been brutal for incumbents around the world and brought home the fact that inflation is political kryptonite," Tina Fordham, an independent strategist and advisor, said in a LinkedIn post this week.A key consequence of inflation has been central banks raising <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/banking/what-is-interest">interest rates</a> to curb spending, hiring, and investing, cooling price growth. The Fed raised its benchmark rate from nearly zero to north of 5% in under 18 months, raising many people's monthly payments on their credit cards, car loans, and mortgages.The central bank made its first cut this September and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/federal-reserve-cuts-interest-rates-quarter-point-powell-inflation-election-2024-11">trimmed</a> a second time this week, broadly in line with peers such as the Bank of England and the European Central Bank.Surging prices and steeper interest rates has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/big-short-michael-burry-jpmorgan-consumer-inflation-rates-banking-crisis-2023-4">squeezed households</a> in the US and many other countries. Voters appear to be fed up with onerous living costs and eager to kick out the leaders they blame for their struggles.Other issues, such as illegal immigration and the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, have also spurred votes for change.<h2 id="508f4884-4bdf-4651-b7a6-4bb22f9f0fde">Demanding change</h2>In the US, those concerns are so powerful that they've trumped the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/economic-outlook-pandemic-stock-market-crash-inflation-recession-rates-ai-2024-2">economic reality</a> of resilient growth, historically low unemployment, declining inflation, falling rates, and a record stock market. In a CNN exit poll, 72% of Americans said they were dissatisfied with the country's direction.Louis Perron, a political consultant author of "Beat the Incumbent: Proven Strategies and Tactics to Win Elections," said in a note this week that elections featuring an incumbent are "foremost a referendum on the incumbent."In Harris' case, he said "it would have probably taken a miracle to overcome the circumstances with respect to inflation and the border."People "can't pay for groceries with Democracy or reproductive rights," he added. "If the mood of the electorate is so sour, people just want to stop the bleeding."Similarly, Deutsche Bank's Reid wrote that voters are disappointed by how slowly their lives are improving amid cooler economic growth.He said they don't buy that incumbents can tackle immigration, some incumbent governments have had scandals, and voters have become "much more willing to change their vote from election to election."

Voters worldwide are angry about higher prices and keep punishing those in power

New Delhi [India], May 16 (ANI): <keyword id="9766785" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha-elections-2024" source="Orion">Lok Sabha elections 2024</keyword> have seen a <keyword id="20108198" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="voter-turnout" source="keywords">voter turnout</keyword> at polling stations of about 66.95 per cent so far, as approximately 451 million people have voted during the first four phases of ongoing general elections. In a bid to encourage voters to exercise their franchise in large numbers, ECI has enhanced its targeted interventions to reach out to every eligible voter. The Commission led by CEC Rajiv Kumar along with ECs Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, further directed CEOs of the states going to poll in the fifth, sixth and seventh phases to timely distribute voter information slips to all electors and enhance outreach activities. "Commission strongly believes that partnership and collaboration are essential pillars of the voter awareness programme. It's heartening to see that, at the Commission's request, different institutions, influencers and celebrities with significant reach are working enthusiastically on a pro-bono basis," Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said. Further, he added that a higher voter turnout would be a message from Indian voters to the world, about the strength of Indian Democracy. He urges all the voters to cast their vote in huge numbers, as voting day is not a holiday but a day of pride, by participating in the festival of democracy. According to an official release, various <keyword id="21686177" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="voter-awareness-drives" source="keywords">voter awareness drives</keyword> and campaigns have been carried out by stakeholders in collaboration with ECI. Telecom Service Providers such as Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Bharti Airtel Limited, Jio Telecommunication, and Vodafone-Idea Limited are reaching out to every mobile user in the respective parliamentary constituency through push SMS/Flash SMSs, outbound dialling calls to mobile users, RCS (Rich Communication Services) messaging and WhatsApp messages/alerts. These activities are carried out two/three days before the poll and even on the poll day, in regional languages, with an appeal to vote. ECI has collaborated with BCCI for voter awareness activities during the ongoing IPL season. The voter awareness messages and songs are being played at different stadiums during the cricket matches. The most innovative aspect of this campaign is the administration of voter's pledges by cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in a pre-recorded video message, at various IPL venues. Further, voter awareness messages are integrated into cricket commentary. Cricketers from 10 IPL teams have encouraged voters to participate in the <keyword id="19895394" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="keywords">Lok Sabha</keyword> elections in 2024 with their recorded voter awareness messages. A voting day alert was sent to all Facebook users pan India to inform and inform the voters about the general elections and to nudge them to participate in the festival of democracy, the release mentioned. The release further stated that WhatsApp personalised messages have begun on polling day. Google India is contributing through its iconic feature of Google Doodle on poll days and banners appearing on YouTube, Google Pat and other Google platforms. The Retail Association of India has been actively engaging with voter awareness activities, through their retail network, whereby retail chains are encouraged to celebrate the election as a festival. The vast network of post offices and banking institutions was utilised by ECI to reach out to a wide and diverse audience across the length and breadth of the country. In collaboration with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the parliamentary elections campaign logo "Chunav ka Parv, Desh ka Garv" has been integrated with the IRCTC portal and tickets. Voter awareness announcements have been integrated with the public address system at all railway stations. The logo stickers are used on coaches of the superfast trains. In collaboration with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, hoardings on voter awareness have been installed in about 16,000 retail outlets. In collaboration with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, airlines are making an inflight announcement with an appeal message to participate in the ensuing elections. Voter guides are being kept in aircraft seat pockets. Apart from this, many airports are providing space for the display of voter awareness messages. Selfie points have been installed at airports in 10 major cities viz. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Patna, Chandigarh, and Pune. Cinema theatres across the country are playing ECI voter awareness films and ECI Song Main Bharat Hoon, Hum Bharat Ke Matdata Hai, at regular intervals, as a part of the Public Service Awareness (PSA) film. Sansad TV is creating short films on Unique Polling Stations set up in remote corners of the country by the election machinery after navigating difficult terrains to demonstrate the challenges in ensuring voting at the last mile. AMUL, Mother Dairy and other milk co-operatives have started branding their milk pouches with the message 'Chunav Ka Parv, Desh ka Garv' and encouraging voters through social media platforms. AMUL is also encouraging voters with its unique messaging through AMUL Girl Topical advertisements in newspapers. Prasar Bharati: Doordarshan has produced, various short films, including appeals from constitutional functionaries like President of India, Vice President of India, and Chief Justice of India, among others. Further, unique polling stations are being covered by the regional Kendra's audio-visual documentation. Music App Spotify is running a campaign called 'Play Your Part', and they have issued print advertisements, and curated the playlists for the elections, on their app. Payments app PhonePe has integrated voter awareness message into their app and is actively encouraging voters. BookMyShow has launched an integrated campaign, titled "Aaj Picture Nahi, Bigger Picture Dekho," to raise awareness among voters. MakeMyTrip is running a campaign titled 'MyVoteWalaTrip', whereby discounts are offered to citizens going to vote. Food delivery platforms such as Zomato and Swiggy are disseminating voter awareness messages through their platforms and social media activities. Grocery App Blinkit changed its logo to "Inkit" for the elections, incorporating a message encouraging people to "Go out and Vote" as a tagline. Uber India is reaching out to voters through multi-channel messaging (in-app, emails, push notifications), offering discounts for rides to polling stations, and amplifying voter awareness messages on social media platforms. Bike app Rapido has been encouraging voters with a free ride to vote. Urban Company has launched 'I Have Voted Campaign' to encourage voters. Tata Neu app, serving as the Tata Group's group-wide consumer-facing mobile app, prominently features the "Cast Your Vote" animated banner on its homepage, with additional initiatives currently underway. Truecaller is enhancing its layout by displaying voter awareness message during outbound calls Some other independent initiatives are Mankind Pharma #VotingVirgin campaign, clothing brand Neeru's "Vote ki Taiyaari" TVC, Tinder's "Every Single Vote Counts" campaign, creatively curated social media post by Matrimonial sites like Jeevansathi.com, etc and discounts for voting by popular brands such as Shoppers' Stop, MakeMyTrip, Chroma and many more. Four phases of Lok Sabha polls have been held and the voting will conclude on June 1 with results on June 4. The remaining phases will be held on May 20, May 25, and June 1.

451 million voters! First four phases of Lok Sabha elections witness 66.95% voter turnout so far

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="15219879" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="JPMorgan-CEO" source="Orion">JPMorgan CEO</keyword> <keyword id="20214240" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jamie-Dimon" source="keywords">Jamie Dimon</keyword> in April said Narendra <keyword id="19899684" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Modi" source="keywords">Modi</keyword> had done "an unbelievable job" leading India.</li><li>But effusive praise from <keyword id="22000749" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="business-titans" source="keywords">business titans</keyword> didn't persuade voters to give Modi the victory he wanted.</li><li>Modi will now have to govern with allies, and the surprise result hit the Indian stock market.</li></ul>In a major upset, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/indian-election-results-shocking-blow-narendra-modi-2024-6" target="_blank">lost his absolute majority in parliament</a> on Tuesday. But, back when most expected Modi to cruise to a third big election victory, Western business titans lined up to praise him for transforming what is set to become the world's third-largest economy by 2027. His pro-growth, pro-business policies have been a huge draw for tech giants like <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-tim-cook-obsessed-india-consumers-iphone-2023-7" target="_blank">Apple</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-would-spur-growth-in-india-ev-market-rival-says-2024-4" target="_blank">Tesla</a>, both of which have signaled intentions to expand operations there. In April, <keyword id="19967624" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="JPMorgan" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="JPMorgan" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="JPMorgan">JPMorgan</keyword> CEO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jamie-dimon-career" target="_blank">Jamie Dimon</a> effusively praised the Indian leader during an event at The Economic Club of New York. "Modi has done an unbelievable job in India. I know the liberal press here, they beat the hell out of him," Dimon said. "He's taken 400 million people out of poverty." Dimon also said he thought US officials needed to stop "lecturing" Modi on how to run India and instead start taking lessons from the world's most populous democracy. "They've got an unbelievable education system. Unbelievable infrastructure. They're lifting up that whole country because this one man is tough," Dimon said. "He's breaking down some of the bureaucracy," he added. "And we need a little bit more of that here." Representatives for Dimon didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on the election result sent outside regular business hours. Dimon isn't alone. <a href="https://x.com/tim_cook/status/1648684750029340673" target="_blank">Apple CEO Tim Cook met Modi in April of last year</a>, saying the company shared his "vision of the positive impact technology can make on India's future." "India is an incredibly exciting market. It's a major focus for us," Cook said in a November <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2023-05-05/tim-cook-india-is-an-incredibly-exciting-market-video" target="_blank">earnings call</a>. "I was just there and the dynamism in the market, the vibrancy is unbelievable." Without an absolute majority, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/narendra-modi-win-bjp-india-election-explained-2024-6" target="_blank">Modi will rely on the support of smaller parties, who could oust him if they switch allegiance</a>. News of the shrinking majority hit the Indian stock market on Tuesday — it <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/etf/indian-stocks-tumble-the-most-since-march-2020-with-modi-s-party-set-to-lose-majority-1033450216" target="_blank">registered its most significant daily drop</a> since March 2020. However, experts say the electoral surprise is unlikely to unravel his past reforms. "This surprise creates political and policy uncertainties that will have at least short-term consequences," said <a href="https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/experts-react-modi-loses-ground-electoral-surprise/" target="_blank">Jeff Lande</a>, a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council's South Asia Center. "A reversal of the sort of investments and capital expenditure that the government has advanced in recent years, in favor of a return to subsidies, protectionism, and welfare programs, is unlikely," he continued. It is true that his decadelong reign as India's prime minister has coincided with a decline in the country's poverty levels: Figures from the <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-of-population-in-extreme-poverty?tab=chart&amp;country=~IND" target="_blank">World Bank</a> indicate the share of its population living in extreme poverty dropped to 12.9% in 2021 from 18.8% in 2014. Some of Modi's critics, however, may argue that his track record in economic policymaking has been uneven. In October, India's unemployment rate hit 10.1%, per the <a href="https://www.cmie.com/kommon/bin/sr.php?kall=warticle&amp;dt=20231103192154&amp;msec=053" target="_blank">Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy</a>. That is the first time the country's jobless rate has exceeded 10% since the COVID-19 pandemic. "Growth has been good, but it has to be set in perspective," Raghuram Rajan, a former governor of the Reserve Bank of India, told the <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/8299d318-7c35-49a0-9a9a-b8e5abeba7be" target="_blank">Financial Times</a> in January.

Business titans like Jamie Dimon think Modi is great for India. It didn't convince voters.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>People around the world are choosing to vote against the establishment.</li><li>And this anti-incumbent trend is bad news for President Joe Biden. </li></ul>It's a bad time to be an incumbent.From the UK to India, France to the US, voters are taking to the polls and making their voices clear through sweeping and shocking swings of political power.Though some say right-wing movements are on the rise globally, in this year's elections, that's not universally the case. Some left-leaning parties are beating out those on the right, and vice versa.With the cost of living and inflation rising and less social mobility following the COVID-19 pandemic, voters are taking their anger out on their country's leaders."I think inflation is probably the elephant in the room here," Brian Greenhill, a professor at SUNY Albany and political scientist who studies international institutions and globalization, told Business Insider.<div type="image" title="Protesters holding up signs with messages such as: &quot;I'm a climate voter,&quot; &quot;Restore nature now,&quot; and &quot;Make Tory MPs a rare species on 4th July for all our sakes.&quot;" height="3924" width="5300" msid="111487406" hostid="261"></div>In short, voters are just fed up — no matter who's in charge."I do think there are other longer-term structural issues too that are perhaps fueling this kind of anti-incumbent, but also more generally antiestablishment, trend," Greenhill said.<h2 id="596cd259-b78a-47da-abdd-3c37561388cb">Voters want a chance</h2>Globally, it's not hard to see an antiestablishment, anti-incumbency trend playing out.<ul><li>Polling shows that in the UK's election on Thursday, the Labour opposition party, led by Keir Starmer, is poised to unseat the 14-year rule of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/labour-ahead-conservatives-before-uks-july-4-election-polls-show-2024-07-01/">Reuters</a> reported.</li><li>In France, support for President Emmanuel Macron's centrist government collapsed as far-left and far-right parties gained a higher percentage of votes this week in the first round of the country's two-round election process.</li><li>In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's long-dominant party <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/indian-election-results-shocking-blow-narendra-modi-2024-6">failed to win an outright parliamentary majority</a> in last month's election, while the more democratically-minded opposition party gained steam.</li><li>In South Africa's election last month, the African National Congress party lost its outright majority for the first time in 30 years, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.npr.org/2024/06/01/nx-s1-4987616/south-africa-election-results">NPR</a> reported.</li><li>And in South Korea, President Yoon Suk Yeol's ruling conservative party suffered losses to the liberal opposition in April's parliamentary election, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-opposition-wins-landslide-parliamentary-vote-resounding-blow-yoon-2024-04-10/">Reuters</a> reported.</li></ul>The list of global incumbent losses goes on — and that's not even mentioning the United States, where incumbent <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-trump-debates-polling-harris-election-2024-7">President Joe Biden is trailing behind Donald Trump</a> in national polling ahead of the November election.<div type="image" title="A child waving a French flag among a crowd of protesters, with people climbing a graffitied monument in the background." height="4000" width="6000" msid="111487412" hostid="261"></div>"There's a lot of dissatisfaction with the way democracy is working," Richard Wike, the director of Pew Research Center's global attitudes research, said on <a target="_blank" href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/3xt5bXWg8350STWNNNYoLK?si=ba357653f447427b">FiveThirtyEight's politics podcast</a> in June.A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/06/18/satisfaction-with-democracy-has-declined-in-recent-years-in-high-income-nations/">spring 2024 poll from Pew Research Center</a> found that just 36% of people in 12 countries — the US, the UK, Canada, France, Germany, South Korea, Greece, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden — were satisfied with the way their country's democracy was working. And that's down from 49% in 2021."This dissatisfaction is a bit of a global trend in many countries," Wike added on FiveThirtyEight's podcast.Greenhill said one of the biggest issues driving the surge in antiestablishment populist movements was rising income equality, which, though largely stemming from the 2008 financial crisis, was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.<div type="image" title="A wall covered in graffiti, including the words &quot;eat the rich.&quot;" height="3415" width="5123" msid="111487409" hostid="261"></div>Another factor, Greenhill added, was the worsening political polarization driven by social-media echo chambers and dubious online news consumption.In the US, incumbents have historically fared better than their opponents.Between 1936 and 2012, 11 out of 14 presidents won their reelection races, but the tide appears to be shifting, as <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://time.com/6549871/2024-presidential-elections-incumbency/">Time</a> reported.Greenhill pointed out that anti-incumbency frustrations tend to come and go but that the growing populist, antiestablishment movement we're seeing now is "at least in modern political history, somewhat new.""The fact that Trump right now — after everything that's happened after January 6th and his felony convictions and his multiple criminal indictments — the fact that he's still leading in the polls shows that there's still a huge kind of reservoir of support for this kind of 'burn the house down' kind of approach to politics," Greenhill said.And if the goal is burning down the house, Americans may be ready to light the match. So-called "double haters" — voters who dislike both Trump and Biden — have made up an influential chunk of the electorate in recent polls.Reports say the dissatisfaction with Biden after his <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-happened-biden-trump-debate-takeaways-2024-6">disastrous debate performance</a> last week is so strong <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-allies-bidens-debate-performance-reaction-donald-trump-2024-6">globally</a> and even <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-loyalists-say-step-down-after-trump-debate-2024-6">among his own supporters</a> that it's led the president himself to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-considers-dropping-out-after-debate-sources-2024-7">question whether he can turn it all around</a>.If Biden does decide to step aside, it would present a unique situation: Who would voters choose when no direct incumbent is running in an anti-incumbent environment?America may end up being the testing ground for that experiment.

Forget right or left. Voters are sick of whoever's in charge. 

Actor-turned-politician <keyword id="20008310" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Suresh-Gopi" source="keywords">Suresh Gopi</keyword> who is poised for a <keyword id="21145935" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="historic-win" source="keywords">historic win</keyword> in the parliamentary seat of <keyword id="19977207" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Thrissur" source="keywords">Thrissur</keyword> said he is "ecstatic" about the <keyword id="19894848" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP" source="keywords">BJP</keyword> breaching the bastion in <keyword id="19896018" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kerala" source="keywords">Kerala</keyword> according to trends announced by the Election Commission on Tuesday in the counting of votes in the 2024 <keyword id="19895394" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha" source="keywords">Lok Sabha</keyword> elections. "What was very impossible became gloriously possible," said the actor who contested from the seat for the second time after losing in the last general elections in 2019. Gopi said he "bowed down to" the "truly <keyword id="21934911" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="secular-voters" source="keywords">secular voters</keyword>" of Thrissur, adding that there were attempts to "corrupt" the voters' mind away from the BJP but the Gods "led them in the correct path". "Attempts were made to mislead the voters but God led them on the correct path to accept my party through me ...even if some of you feel that this is a miracle, this miracle was imminent...The victory is due to people's blessings. I bow down to the truly secular voters of Thrissur who made this victory possible," the actor said. He further said that "...Narendra Modi is my political God. ..I am not believing in just a manifesto...I will work for the whole Kerala...I will work as Kerala MP..." The 65-year-old actor said, " I am in totally an ecstatic mood. What was very impossible became gloriously possible...it was not a 62-day campaign process, it was an emotional carriage for the past 7 years...I work for Kerala as a whole. My first pick will be to have AIIMS..." Gopi also credited his victory to the BJP workers who worked in his election campaign. "I also credit my party workers who worked in more than a thousand booths in the constituency. A lot of mothers and sisters from other districts and states also worked for me. Many of them came from Mumbai, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi. Their effort made a positive impact," he said. Suresh Gopi was leading with 400706 votes in the Thrissur constituency with a margin of 73091 votes over <keyword id="21934912" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="v-s-sunil" source="keywords">V S Sunil</keyword> Kumar of the CPI and <keyword id="19895371" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Congress" meta.hostid="83" meta.entityid="Congress">Congress</keyword>' Muraleedharan of the Congress who polled 319560 votes as per data on the poll body's website at 2 pm. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was leading by 3,28,460 votes in Wayanad constituency over his nearest rival CPI's Annie Raja, as per Election Commission data. Congress sitting MP Shashi Tharoor took a lead over BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar in Thiruvananthapuram with 325896 votes and CPI's Pannian Raveendran in third spot, data by EC said. Congress' KC Venugopal was leading with 364811 votes against nearest rival AM Ariff of the CPI (M) while BJP's <keyword id="21418632" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sobha-surendran" source="keywords">Sobha Surendran</keyword> trailed in the third place. The polling in Kerala was held in single phase on April 26. The voter turnout was recorded at 71.27 per cent. Out of the total 2,77,49,158 voters in Kerala, a total of 1,97,77,478 exercised their franchise. In the 2019 General Elections, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the BJP failed to open its account in the southern state. In its attempt to garner votes in Kerala, the BJP focussed on the Christian community in the state which accounts for 18.38 per cent of the total population. Meanwhile, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the BJP crossed the majority mark in early leads and the INDIA bloc above 200, defying all exit poll predictions. The BJP is currently leading on 240 seats, as per the latest trends by the ECI. The Lok Sabha elections were held across the country in seven phases from April 19 to June 1. (ANI)

"Miracle was imminent", says Suresh Gopi after BJP's historic Lok Sabha victory in Kerala

New Delhi, The <keyword id="19895782" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="election-commission" source="keywords">Election Commission</keyword> on Monday roped in banks and post offices to spread voter awareness as part of its efforts to increase voting percentage in the upcoming <keyword id="19895394" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="keywords">Lok Sabha</keyword> polls. The poll panel has often expressed concern over urban and youth apathy with many registered voters not turning up at the polling stations to cast ballot in the previous elections. Over 30 crore of the 91 crore electors did not cast their ballot in the previous parliamentary polls. The Election Commission (EC) on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with two prominent organisations -- the Indian Banks' Association (<keyword id="19941316" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="iba" source="keywords">IBA</keyword>) and the Department of Posts (<keyword id="20733048" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dop" source="keywords">DoP</keyword>) -- to amplify its voter outreach and awareness efforts ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The initiative, the poll panel said, is in continuation of its efforts to enhance electoral awareness in the country. The EC had recently signed an MoU with the Ministry of Education to formally integrate electoral literacy into the educational curriculum of the schools and colleges. The latest initiative has been taken based on insights and knowledge gained by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) <keyword id="20110344" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rajiv-kumar" source="keywords">Rajiv Kumar</keyword> from his past roles and experience working in the financial sector, particularly in the Indian banking sector and India Post Payments Banks, the officials pointed out. As part of the MoU, the IBA and the DoP with its members and affiliated institutions will extend support in promoting voter education through their extensive network on a pro bono without charge basis, employing various interventions to empower the citizens with knowledge about their electoral rights, processes and steps for registration and voting. The members and affiliated institutions will now display voter education messages prominently on their websites, directing visitors to learn more about the electoral process. Voter education content will be disseminated through various promotional channels such as social media and customer outreach platforms of member institutions, ensuring widespread awareness among stakeholders and the public, the EC said. Voter education messages will also be displayed in the form of posters, flex and hoardings at office premises at major locations, reaching the customers at key touchpoints. All member institutions under the IBA and the DoP will establish 'voter awareness fora' to engage the employees and customers in discussions and initiatives related to voter education. The Department of Posts will affix a special cancellation stamp (bearing voter education messages) on the postal articles. "Despite successfully managing and conducting elections by the Election Commission over the years in a fair and peaceful way along with a significant increase in participation of the electors, there is also a concern that around 30 crore electors, out of 91 crore, did not cast their votes in general election to Lok Sabha 2019. The voting percentage was 67.4 per cent, which the Commission has taken as a challenge to improve upon," the EC said. The Indian Banks' Association now has a strong network of 247 members across the country. Public sector banks are in lead with 90,000+ branches and 1.36 lakh ATMs followed by 42,000+ branches of private sector banks with 79,000+ ATMs. Regional rural banks contribute over 22,400 branches, while small finance and payment banks operate around 7,000 branches and more than 3,000 ATMs. Foreign banks maintain 840 branches and 1,158 ATMs, and local area banks have 81 branches. "The cumulative number of the branches are over 1.63 lakh with more than 2.19 lakh ATMs across the country," the poll authority pointed out.

EC ropes in banks, post offices to spread voter awareness ahead of LS polls

India’s political landscape is increasingly being defined by the troubling nexus between crime and politics. A study has highlighted a startling correlation: the election of politicians with criminal records is directly linked to a rise in crime across the country, particularly in states with weaker institutional frameworks. As India's political system continues to grapple with this issue, the societal consequences are becoming clear. <h2>A history of <keyword id="23341122" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="criminal-politicians" source="keywords">criminal politicians</keyword></h2><keyword id="21026899" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pappu-Yadav" source="keywords">Pappu Yadav</keyword>, a veteran politician from Bihar, serves as a prime example of this disturbing trend. Having represented his constituency for nearly 25 years, Yadav has faced 41 criminal cases, including serious accusations of murder and kidnapping. Despite his conviction in 2008, Yadav was acquitted in 2013, and he continues to hold political influence. His case is not unique; the political scene in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh is littered with politicians facing multiple criminal charges. Anant Singh, another prominent figure from Bihar, holds a political career shadowed by 38 criminal cases, including murder, kidnapping, and attempts to murder. These individuals represent a broader pattern where politicians accused of serious crimes continue to serve in public office despite their criminal backgrounds. "They are getting elected, and over time the number has only been going up," remarks lead author Nishith Prakash. "In some states, it could be as high as almost 40% of people who are representing the state have some kind of a criminal accusation." <h2>Crime begets crime</h2>The research delves into the ramifications of electing criminally accused politicians. The study found that states with a higher number of such politicians also experienced increased <keyword id="22044507" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="crime-rates" source="keywords">crime rates</keyword>. For example, states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh, known for their historically weak institutions, have seen crime rise by 4.3% annually with the election of criminal politicians. The number increases to 5.8% when the politicians are accused of serious crimes like murder and kidnapping. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113692670" title="What will it take for Kangana Ranaut’s &amp;#39;Emergency&amp;#39; to finally hit theatres?" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Prakash notes that weak rule of law and institutional failure create fertile ground for such politicians to not only rise to power but also exacerbate the deteriorating law-and-order situation. When politicians themselves are involved in criminal activities, they often manipulate legal and administrative systems, further weakening law enforcement and emboldening criminal networks. The reign of <keyword id="20122630" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lalu-prasad-yadav" source="keywords">Lalu Prasad Yadav</keyword>, president of the Rashtriya Janata Dal political party in Bihar, illustrates the adverse impact criminal politicians can have. Under his leadership, Bihar’s political environment devolved into what is now infamously known as "Jungle Raj," a period marked by rampant kidnappings for ransom, particularly targeting affluent individuals like doctors and schoolchildren. The researchers note that during this time, the kidnapping industry flourished as criminals enjoyed either direct or indirect support from the state. <h2><keyword id="22404298" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="impact-on-women" source="keywords">Impact on women</keyword> and <keyword id="19900794" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-growth" source="keywords">economic growth</keyword></h2>Beyond the immediate rise in general crime rates, the study revealed alarming statistics regarding crimes against women. Electing criminally accused politicians was found to increase crimes against women by 12.6%. In states where such politicians held office, female labour force participation dropped by 10-11%, as women felt unsafe and chose not to engage in work outside their homes. The research also highlighted the economic toll criminal politicians take on their constituencies. Areas represented by politicians accused of serious crimes saw economic growth lag between 2.3% and 6.5% per year compared to other regions. These leaders often misappropriate public funds, divert resources for personal gain, and enable criminal enterprises, all of which stifle local development. <h2>Legal measures taken</h2>India has made strides in identifying and tracking criminally accused politicians. A landmark 2003 ruling by the <keyword id="19895345" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Supreme Court" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Supreme Court">Supreme Court</keyword> mandated that candidates for political office must disclose their criminal records, making it easier for voters and institutions to scrutinise their backgrounds. However, the law only disqualifies convicted individuals from running for office, allowing accused politicians to continue their political careers while facing serious charges. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113446721" title="It&amp;#39;s not just the rhetoric — apathy and jokes could be fueling a spiral of retaliatory political violence, expert warns" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>The research conducted by Prakash and his team has caught the attention of Indian courts and the Election Commission. While reform is slow, there is growing recognition that the quality of political leadership has a profound impact on societal outcomes, from crime rates to economic performance. "The quality of politicians matters," Prakash notes. "Who you elect has implications on outcomes that we care about. It could be economic growth, it could be crime against women, it could be labour force participation. These are very important outcomes for society and the economy." The findings of this research have been published in Journal of Law Economics and Organization and can be accessed <a href="https://docs.iza.org/dp15259.pdf">here</a>.

Not only does electing “criminal” politicians often lead to an increase in crime in India, it can also be terrible for the economy: study

<ul><li>Dinner dates may be dead as picnics, coffee dates, stand-ups, long drives and cooking were among the most popular <keyword id="6367193" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dating" source="Orion">dating</keyword> ideas. </li><li>Going alcohol-free during dates is also on the rise in <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> this year. </li><li>More than a hookup, but not quite a traditional relationship, the “situationship,” a casual-yet-clearly-defined relationship, came to rise in 2022, as per the <keyword id="1738241" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tinder" source="Orion">Tinder</keyword> report. </li></ul><keyword id="2529384" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="chandler-bing" source="Orion">Chandler Bing</keyword>, the character from popular American sitcom <keyword id="343" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="friends" source="Orion">Friends</keyword>, is funny, quirky and “makes jokes when he is uncomfortable” – losing him the ladies on the sitcom. However, going by Tinder’s Year in Swipe report for 2022, being funny may have won him brownie points on the dating site. Young singles were indeed looking for dates who are “fresh, funny and forward,” Tinder revealed. If dating during the pandemic involved ‘roller skating’ or ‘grocery stores’, this year it evolved to ‘picnics’ ‘coffee dates’ and ‘stand-ups’. Situationships, shared values and social issues were the top green flags for a new generation of daters who are done with wasting their time, the dating app Tinder’s yearly report revealed. <div type="image" title="Top 10 Emojis of 2022 on Tinder" msid="95824835" hostid="261" sizebytes="131226"></div> More than a hookup, but not quite a traditional relationship, the “situationship,” a casual - yet-clearly-defined relationship, came to rise in 2022, as per the Tinder report. Young singles are owning the situationship as a valid relationship status now. “When asked what the most important characteristics are in a potential date, young singles prioritised value-based qualities like loyalty (79%), respect (78%) and open-mindedness (61%) over looks (56%),” Tinder reported. Politics and social issues were also a major make-or-break deal in the dating world. Three-quarters (75%) singles were looking for a match who was respectful of or invested in social issues. <div type="image" title="Top 10 local issues that created buzz on Tinder" msid="95824864" hostid="261" sizebytes="116346"></div> Many Indian Tinder members added the Ukrainian flag to their profiles in support of Ukraine this year, and it ranked within the top 10 trending emojis on Tinder. Additionally, the <keyword id="15638635" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="activism-and-voters-rights" source="Orion">Activism and Voters Rights</keyword> interests both increased (84% and 37% respectively) in Tinder profiles this year. What are young Indians looking for? Dinner dates might just be witnessing its end as coffee dates, picnics, stand-ups, long drives and cooking were considered the most popular dating ideas. Hiking, movie night, a walk in the park, pairing up during festivals and board games were other popular forms of connection. Interestingly, going alcohol-free during dates also witnessed a spike in India. Over 25% of young singles surveyed said they drank less on dates compared with last year and 72% of members said on their Tinder profiles that they don’t drink or only drink occasionally. The emoticons indicating beer and wine witnessed a drop of up to 40% on tinder profiles. <div type="image" title="Top 10 interests on Tinder India profiles" msid="95824939" hostid="261" sizebytes="122848"></div> “Indian daters are wasting no time in reshaping the dating world in their image, once they could return to in-real-life dating. As we shift into gear for 2023, the trends of 2022 will definitely guide the way Indian daters navigate the world of dating, friends, connections and relationships – and we can’t wait to see them continue to embrace situationships, spontaneous trips and sober dates,” said Aahana Dhar, director of communications for <keyword id="3150067" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="tinder-india" source="Orion">Tinder India</keyword>. The terms “red flag” and “gaslighting” were trending. Nearly two-thirds (66%) of the young singles surveyed said they were confident they could identify potential green or red flags when dating. Young singles were also looking for astrology to guide their dating life as star signs were the most popular type of descriptor on the app bios behind smoking preferences, pets and diet. <keyword id="27359" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="zodiac" source="Orion">Zodiac</keyword> signs Leos, Scorpios and Cancers were the signs most likely to include their sign in their bios, Tinder revealed. Tinder also revealed that Indians aged 18-25 years were packing their bags more frequently as revenge travelling witnessed a spike post pandemic. Hyderabad has been crowned the chattiest city for video chats on Tinder India this year, followed by Chennai and Bangalore, all using the feature to connect with others around the country, and world. Globally, nostalgia got a strong hold of young singles as they found inspiration from the dating trends of the 90s and the noughties. In addition, talking about sneakers, anime, going camping and barbeque, trying new things or street food together were growing interests that captured the attention of the youth on the app. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/upcoming-new-car-and-suv-in-india-in-december-2022/slidelist/95823897.cms">Upcoming cars launching in India in December 2022</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/personal-finance/news/digital-lending-platforms-see-3x-year-on-year-rise-in-disbursals-to-14016-crore-in-q2-fy23/articleshow/95821140.cms">Digital lending platforms see 3x year-on-year rise in disbursals to ₹14,016 crore in Q2 FY23</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/black-friday-the-sales-scams-and-myths/articleshow/95764746.cms">Black Friday: The sales, scams and myths</a>

You Searched For "Voters in India" and got 9 results

ECI Announces election schedules for Maharashtra and Jharkhand; both states to vote in November

BI India Bureau

Voters worldwide are angry about higher prices and keep punishing those in power

Theron Mohamed

451 million voters! First four phases of Lok Sabha elections witness 66.95% voter turnout so far

ANI

Business titans like Jamie Dimon think Modi is great for India. It didn't convince voters.

Kwan Wei Kevin Tan

Forget right or left. Voters are sick of whoever's in charge.

Grace Eliza Goodwin

"Miracle was imminent", says Suresh Gopi after BJP's historic Lok Sabha victory in Kerala

ANI

EC ropes in banks, post offices to spread voter awareness ahead of LS polls

PTI

Not only does electing “criminal” politicians often lead to an increase in crime in India, it can also be terrible for the economy: study

Ankush Banerjee

Having a funny bone like Chandler Bing’s could make you hot property on Tinder

Eetika Kapoor

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