India Elects: what are the implications for the country’s foreign and security policy?
Abstract
The Indian election is already underway and takes place in seven phases, from 11 April to 19 May. India had entered election mode when the terror attack in Kashmir claimed the lives of forty police force personnel. This event, as well as the subsequent Indian response, placed security policy higher up on the agenda than it usually is in Indian elections. For this reason, it is pertinent to explore the foreign policy legacy of the current government in India, which is dominated by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The article also examines what is at stake for India and Asia when the country’s 900 Million eligible voters cast their ballot.