Journal Articles

The 2024 Lok Sabha election marked an important moment revealing significant undercurrents shaping the contours of Indian politics. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remained the single largest party, its underwhelming performance against the expectations in the run-up to polls surprised political observers. Naturally, much of the analysis thus far has been to understand the factors that shaped the verdict. This special issue interrogates what the 2024 election tells us beyond the outcome: the shifting salience of social identities; the role of digital media in voter mobilisation and message control; the growing partisan polarisation in Indian politics; intensifying anxieties about the legitimacy of several key institutions; and the concerns over the evolving character of Indian democracy. By shifting the analytical lens from electoral outcomes to broader political dynamics, we suggest that the 2024 Lok Sabha election may be remembered less for who won and more for what it signalled about India’s future.