ISAS Briefs

With India holding the largest democratic exercise in the world right now, some of the settled patterns in Indian politics seem poised for change. New leaders having taken over the reins in India's major political parties, amid a plethora of regional blocs, the 2014 general election to the Lok Sabha (the powerful Lower House of Parliament) promises a fresh Indian narrative. On the campaign trail, India's political parties have tried to frame the debate with a view to discredit each other's opponents in partisan ways. Staking claim to power at the Centre, the national helm of affairs, after a decade in opposition, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been quick to focus on the corruption scandals, price rise and economic failures under the outgoing Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime. The Congress, for its part, has cautioned against the 'communal' brand of politics practised by the BJP-Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) combine. As the election runs its course both parties have articulated their future strategies for the country in their respective election manifestos.