Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 09/2014

In India, Election Season Is Never Over

Richard M. Rossow

July 2014

Center for Strategic and International Studies

Abstract

The BJP's historic victory in the spring 2014 Lok Sabha election was a tremendous accomplishment—yet it still leaves the party with impartial control, at best. Weakness in the Rajya Sabha, where the BJP only holds 43 out of 243 seats, may limit the party’s ability to enact legislative reforms. And the fact that the BJP only controls 5 of India’s 29 states will also blunt the impact of any policy measures adopted at the center. This report looks at how winning upcoming state elections will play a critical role in the government's ability to carry out its reform agenda.