Main article: Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance

Unable to defeat the NDA in 2014 General Election and 2019 General Election, and with Congress performing its poorest in same, many political leaders understood the need for a grand alliance of almost all major political parties to stand against the BJP led NDA in the 2024 General Elections which resulted in the formation of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A). It was formed by merger of United Progressive Alliance (UPA), Left Front and other smaller alliances, Centre-left to left-wing coalition led by Indian National Congress (INC). The alliance, comprising 26 opposition parties, include many political parties that are at loggerhead with the INC in their respective states and territories but are in alliance for the 2024 General Elections.

Terrorism, Naxalism, religious violence and caste-related violence are important issues that affect the political environment of the Indian nation. Stringent anti-terror legislation such as TADA, POTA and MCOCA have received much political attention, both in favour and against, and some of these laws were disbanded eventually due to human rights violations.^[26] However, UAPA was amended in 2019 to negative effect vis-á-vis human rights.

Terrorism has affected politics in India since its conception, be it the terrorism supported from Pakistan or the internal guerrilla groups such as Naxalites. In 1991 the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated during an election campaign.^[27] The suicide bomber was later linked to the Sri Lankan terrorist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, as it was later revealed the killing was an act of vengeance for Rajiv Gandhi sending troops in Sri Lanka against them in 1987.^[27]

Babri Masjid demolition on 6 December 1992 resulted in nationwide communal riots in two months, with the worst occurring in Mumbai with at least 900 dead.^[27][28] The riots were followed by 1993 Bombay bombings, which resulted in more deaths.

Law and order issues, such as action against organised crime are issues which do not affect the outcomes of elections. On the other hand, there is a criminal–politician nexus. Many elected legislators have criminal cases against them. In July 2008, The Washington Post reported that nearly a fourth of the 540 Indian Parliament members faced criminal charges, "including human trafficking, child prostitution, immigration rackets, embezzlement, rape and even murder".^[29]

Main article: Democracy in India

From 2006 to 2023 the situation of Indian democracy worsened. little state presence in tribal areas and tensions between Hindus and minorities. The rebellions are a sign of the governments loss of power. Interreligious riots where observed. Political freedoms are limited since funding of NGOs, such as amnesty international, got more difficult due to the "Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act", though the constitution guarantees freedom of association. Hindu-nationalist groups created a climate of intimidation over the country. Freedom of press is through the intimidation of journalists by police, criminals and politicians.^[30]

In 2023, according to the Freedom in the World report by Freedom House, India was classified as a "partly free" country for the third consecutive year.^[31][32] The V-Dem Democracy Indices by V-Dem Institute classify India as an 'electoral autocracy'. In 2023, it referred to India as "one of the worst autocracies in the last 10 years".^[33] According to the Democracy Index of the Economist Intelligence Unit, India is a Defective democracy.^[34]

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1.  Krzysztof Iwanek (2 November 2016). "The Curious Stories of Indian Party Symbols". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 19 April 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
2. ^ Jump up to:^a b "Election Commission of India Press Note". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
3. ^ Election Commission of India (26 March 2024). "Commission's Main Notification dated 26.03.24 containing list of National Parties, their Symbols and addresses".
4. ^ "UPSC Notes on Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPP)". BYJUS. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
5. ^ Hicken & Kuhonta 2014, p. 205.
6. ^ Basu & Chandra 2016, p. 136.
7. ^ "Is the BJP less dynastic than the Congress? Not so, Lok Sabha data shows". 29 March 2019.
8. ^ Chandra 2016, pp. 131, 136.
9. ^ "Coalition Government in India - Meaning and Features [UPSC Polity Notes]". BYJUS. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
10. ^ Agrawal, Puroshottam (1 September 1999). "Identity debate clouds India's elections". Le Monde diplomatique. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
11. ^ "Anti-Terrorism Legislation". Human rights watch. 20 November 2001. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
12. ^ Jump up to:^a b c Guha 2008, pp. 637–659.
13. ^ "Shiv Sainiks will maintain peace post-Ayodhya verdict: Uddhav". Hindustan Times. HT Media Ltd. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
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