The voting figures for the assembly elections in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry completely contradict the claims of 'democracy's dead end'.

The number of people who read the mercy petitions of democracy in India is not small. Except for the supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the leaders of all the other major political parties do not tire of complaining about the erosion of democratic institutions and traditions in the country during Narendra Modi's tenure as Prime Minister. There is also no dearth of such so-called liberals in our country and society for whom finding the germs of dictatorship in every government step has become a favorite profession. That is why they have been making every public platform a source of dissemination of their negative views. But does the voter of the country also think the same?

The results of the assembly elections in Assam, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry on Thursday present a stark contrast to the claims of a 'dead end of democracy'. These figures, which show the celebratory participation of voters in the electoral process, are not a new trend. For the last two decades, the trend of voting in a hurry has been gaining momentum during every democratic election. Is this not a symbol of the confidence that democracy (i.e. democracy) is firmly established in the country and that the institutions associated with this system, if not living up to the expectations of the common people, are also proving to be flawed?

The complete figures for the two states and one Union Territory are yet to be released, but provisional figures show that 85.74 per cent voting was recorded in Assam, 78.26 per cent in Kerala and 89.87 per cent in Puducherry. A voter turnout of at least 2 per cent higher in these three states than in the 2021 assembly elections is a healthy trend in itself. Another interesting aspect of the same situation is that two of these three states experienced a voter turnout of at least 2 per cent due to the implementation of Special Intensity Rectification (SIR) and the third (Assam) due to the implementation of the National Register of Citizens.

Despite the lower total number of votes this time compared to 2021, people preferred to participate in the celebration of democracy (voting). Isn't this a proof of the expansion and popularity of the democratic spirit? After this electoral phase, two major states - Tamil Nadu and West Bengal - are yet to vote. This process will be completed on April 23 in Tamil Nadu and on April 23 and 29 in West Bengal. In both these states, the BJP's opposition parties - DMK and Trinamool Congress are in power. Despite the lively (and toxic) election campaign, the chances of BJP coming to power in both the states are not very bright. Despite this, this party has made every effort to expand its political footprint in these two states. Such efforts are proof of the survival of democracy, not its destruction.

High voter turnout is generally considered a warning sign for the ruling party. The traditional logic is that voters come out to vote in large numbers to punish the ruling party for its shortcomings and errors. But over the past two decades, this phenomenon has been taking a different turn. High voter turnout has also proven to be a basis for greater praise.

That is why Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma or Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan are making claims of a smooth outcome on May 4 without hesitation. In fact, one of the main reasons for the above phenomenon is also considered to be the high participation of women and young voters in voting. Election pundits have been citing the higher participation of women than men as the main reason for the trend of higher voter turnout in every new election compared to the previous one.

It is also becoming a norm for women to vote according to their own likes and dislikes, going against the opinions of the men in the family. Such elements and facts should be considered as evidence of the strength of democratic spirit and traditions. It is not a new custom for disputes or doubts to arise (or be created) regarding the role of the Election Commission. But this fact should be openly accepted that the Commission has made the process of voting simple and lively. This achievement should be appreciated, not criticized.