General Elections in two Greatest Democracies, India and Australia, a study in contrast

By Raj Natarajan

It happens once in a blue moon, general elections are being held in two of the greatest democracies of the World – India and Australia. Central Government or Lok Sabha elections in India and Federal

Government elections in Australia are taking place almost at the same time in parallel. These two

elections offer two contrasting styles of democratic processes. India, as we all know, is a populous and diverse nation whereas Australia is a continent with a population equivalent to one of the mega cities of India. India is a country of countries and has demonstrated to the World that a very diverse nation with a mammoth population can successfully adopt democratic system of government and achieve enviable economic progress.

India is now an economic super power of the World. One can appreciate this achievement of India when one looks at one of the much smaller countries of Europe, Yugoslavia which tore itself into seven different nations not so long ago. When one looks at India and its diversity from North to South and East to West, be it language or food or dress or culture, one cannot stop wondering how India still remains a united country and what unites the people of India. The human values which are dear to the people of India probably binds them together. These values have been inculcated right form a tender age in Indian psyche which promotes tolerance and respect for others’ ways of life, be it religion or culture or beliefs. These values are the binding elements which make India the most diverse yet successful multicultural democratic nation in the World.

Australia is also a model democracy but it’s tolerance and respect for other’s ways has not been tested so-far because of its small population and affluence. There is plenty to go round and all Australians, barring a small fraction of the population, have the basic needs met like food on the table, roof over their head and access to health. We don’t know how the majority population of Australia would react and respond if they are made to struggle for their basic needs. On the other hand there is not much to go round in India and yet India remains united and boasts of the highest economic growth rate in the World today. However Australia has successfully settled migrants from 135 countries and provides ample opportunity to each and every migrant to be the best person he or she can be, which, of course, is a great achievement.

Now let us take a look at the election scene in both these countries, India and Australia which is a study in contrast. Let us first look at the Central Government elections (Lok Sabha elections) in India. According to Times Now-VMR opinion poll, BJP lead NDA will return to power with reduced majority. The poll further predicts that NDA will get anywhere between 275 to 285 seats and Congress lead UPA will get between 145 to 155 seats and the remaining seats being shared by the minor parties. In the 2014 Indian general elections, BJP achieved an absolute majority capturing 282 seats, 166 more than the 15^th Lok Sabha elections and Mr. Narendra Modi took office as the 14th Prime Minister of India. What India has achieved under the leadership of Mr.Modi is the talking point of every Indian both within India as well as outside India.

Supporters of Modi claim that he has been the guiding force for change for the better in the last 5 years such as: inflation is below 5% for the most part of the last 5 years; improved national security;

infrastructure boost (waterways, metro, smart cities & north-east connectivity etc.); welfare schemes for poor (JAM, Ujjwala, housing, toilets); Ayushman Bharat healthcare scheme and Improved India’s image from a scam-tainted country to the vibrant nation. Also the recent surgical strikes on the terrorist cells across the border is seen as a strong response to the never ending militants’ incursion into Indian territory resulting in the loss of not only military personnel but also innocent lives, mainly in the Kashmir valley. Also agreement with countries like Switzerland, Mauritius, Singapore making it difficult to launder black money is seen as positive step towards tackling the deep rooted corruption which has plagued India for decades.

While all the above achievements are laudable, the question is whether the above achievements are

enough to get Modi Government re-elected? The recent state election results in Rajasthan, Madhya

Pradesh and Chhatishgarh, the states which are supposed to be BJP stronghold, seem to suggest that not all cross sections of people in India have liked the initiatives of Modi Government. Therefore the local issues may have a big say in the way people will vote in the upcoming general elections. Also the state based parties AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) or AITC (All India Trinamool Congress) BJD (Biju Janata Dal), Shiv Sena, TDP (Telagu Desam Party), TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samithi) etc., will play a major part in the outcome of India’s general elections. Although all polls and opinion surveys seem to suggest that Modi Government will be returned to power, all be it with a reduced majority, the strategists in BJP led NDA will keep their fingers crossed until the last vote in India’s General Elections are counted and until the fat lady sings, as the saying goes.

How about the upcoming Federal Elections in Australia which is now scheduled for 18th May 2019? In the last election Liberal/National coalition won 76 seats but with losses in the by-elections, in the new 151 member house of Representatives Liberal/National coalition has 73 seats and Labor’s number has increased to 73 seats. Hence it has been similar to a hung parliament with the independents calling the shots on major policy decisions making governing the country almost impossible.

Once again all the major opinion polls put Labor in front although Mr. Scott Morrison remains the preferred prime minister. Recent infighting within the Liberal/National coalition which saw elected prime ministers disposed by the party power brokers, not once but twice in the last three years, has left many voters disgusted and disappointed at the behavior of the politicians who forgot why they were placed in the Parliament by their supporters. People see this infighting as a means of protecting their own jobs instead of looking after the welfare of the people who voted them to power. Therefore there will be backlash from the voters and many may register protest votes against Liberal/National coalition in the upcoming Federal Elections. Labor, however, has not covered themselves with glory when it comes to economic management and boarder protection whereas Liberal/National coalition can claim that they are better economic managers (recent budget has delivered a surplus) and stopped illegal activities of people smugglers. Therefore people before making a decision about who they will vote will probably ask themselves whether they can entrust Labor with the management of Australian economy and border protection. Labor leader Bill Shorten does not present himself either as a charismatic leader like Bob Hawke or a street fighter like Paul Keating and that leadership vacuum may tilt the balance in favor of Liberal/National coalition. Are we going to see another hung Parliament? Well time will only tell. All said and done, democratic processes are at work in two of the greatest democracies of the World – India and Australia which happen to be the Matru Bhoomi (Mother Land) and Karma Bhoomi (Adopted Land) for us, the Indian Australians. Therefore watching general elections of both India and Australia occurring at the same time presents a unique opportunity to compare two different democratic processes.

There aren’t too many differences as the basic democratic principles are same but the techniques of

complying with those principles may be a bit different. The one striking difference is that management of 600 million eligible voters in India which is a different ballgame as compared to managing 10 million voters in Australia and India’s efforts in managing this mammoth task needs to be applauded.