“India's national elections are the Mahakumbh Mela of democracy”: US diplomat Atul Keshap

In a post on X, Keshap posted a picture of the Indian tricolor and wrote, “Hearty congratulations to the great people of India as they embark on the largest exercise of electoral choice in the entire history of our species.”

He said, “With 970 million eligible voters and 1.2 million polling places, India's national election is the Mahakumbh Mela of democracy.”

Hearty congratulations to the great people of India as they embark on the largest exercise of electoral selection in the entire history of our species. With 970 million eligible voters and 1.2 million polling places, India's national election is the Mahakumbh Mela of democracy. pic.twitter.com/WUberByI2W

— Atul Keshap🇺🇸 (@USAmbKeshap) 19 April 2024

The world's largest democratic exercise began in the country today with the first phase of voting taking place in 102 constituencies across 21 states and union territories.

This Lok Sabha election, to be held from April 19 to June 1, will be the second longest voting exercise in the country's electoral history after the first general election, which was held over five months between September 1951 and February 1952.

The last general elections in 2019 were also held in seven phases. Counting of votes will take place on June 4.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking his third consecutive term, while the opposition faction India- an alliance of opposition parties formed to take on the BJP in the general elections, wants to oust him from power.

Those voting in the first phase include seats in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry.

The second phase will take place on April 26 and the remaining phases will take place on May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1 accordingly.