As the results of the mammoth Indian election are announced it is worth noting what a magnificent achievement the election has been.
India is by far the world’s largest democracy and the logistical difficulty of holding an election with so many voters and over such a large area is immense, but once again it has been achieved, with a record turnout of hundreds of millions of voters.
The peaceful transition from one democratic government to another is taken for granted in India – in this case the BJP replacing the Congress Party – yet if you look at the experience of the countries neighbouring it, from Nepal to the north or Burma to the east, it is a tremendous achievement.
The fact that India has been a democracy since independence in 1947 is a tribute to the Indian people.
As we see continued conflict in the Middle East and the chaos that is engulfing the Ukraine, on the doorstep of Europe, it is a pleasant change to see a news story that sees a newly-elected government take power peacefully.
Hannah David
Prospective MP for Harrow West
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