Opposition Parties Rally at Ramlila Maidan to Save Democracy: 48 Lakh Voters Missed in First Phase of India's Elections

New Delhi, Delhi India
Approximately 48 lakh enrolled voters did not turn up to vote in the first phase of India's elections compared to the last time, resulting in a decline of around four percentage points.
Concerns have been raised about Prime Minister Modi's commitment to democratic values due to his consolidation of power and crackdown on dissent.
Indian National Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge urged crowds to fight united and warned of an uneven playing field in the election
Opposition parties held a rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi to save democracy and unite against Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Opposition Parties Rally at Ramlila Maidan to Save Democracy: 48 Lakh Voters Missed in First Phase of India's Elections

In the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, India's opposition parties held a rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi to save democracy and unite against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The main opposition party Indian National Congress chief, Mallikarjun Kharge, urged crowds to fight united and warned of an uneven playing field in the election. Meanwhile, voting for the world's largest election is underway for six weeks with Prime Minister Modi heavily favored to win a third term. However, concerns have been raised about his commitment to democratic values due to his consolidation of power and crackdown on dissent. In the first phase of elections, approximately 48 lakh enrolled voters did not turn up to vote compared to the last time, resulting in a decline of around four percentage points.

The opposition rally at Ramlila Maidan marked their strongest attempt yet to sway voters against electing Prime Minister Modi for a third term. Kharge implored the crowds to save democracy and fight united against an uneven playing field in the election. The consequence of continued Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule, they say, would be the erosion of India's democratic foundation.

Voting for the world's largest election is underway for six weeks with Prime Minister Modi heavily favored to win a third term. However, concerns have been raised about his commitment to democratic values due to his consolidation of power and crackdown on dissent. In the first phase of elections, approximately 48 lakh enrolled voters did not turn up to vote compared to the last time, resulting in a decline of around four percentage points.

Tamil Nadu, with its 39 seats, saw its voting percentage decline by roughly 3 percentage points from 72.44% to 69.46%. Uttarakhand, with five seats, witnessed a dip of almost six percentage points from 61.88% to 55.89%. The Election Commission is looking at ways to bring more voters out in the subsequent phases of elections.

The opposition rally came as Prime Minister Modi's BJP party is heavily favored to win a third term, but concerns have been raised about his commitment to democratic values due to his consolidation of power and crackdown on dissent. The first phase of elections saw a decline in voter turnout with approximately 48 lakh enrolled voters not turning up compared to the last time, resulting in a decrease of around four percentage points.


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Confidence

85%

Doubts
  • It's unclear if the opposition parties have presented any concrete evidence of an uneven playing field in the election.
  • The article does not provide information on why there was a decline in voter turnout or what specific actions the Election Commission is taking to bring more voters out in subsequent phases.

Sources

92%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

In face of Modi juggernaut, India’s opposition appears increasingly weak

CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Helen Regan, Sunday, 21 April 2024 02:19
  • Unique Points
    • Opposition leaders held a rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi to save democracy and implore voters to unite against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
    • Mallikarjun Kharge, the main opposition party Indian National Congress chief, urged crowds to fight united and warned of an uneven playing field in the election.
  • Accuracy
    • India’s future is perceived as being at a crossroads between autocracy and democracy with this high-stakes election.
    • Hazari Lal Rajput, a resident from Uttar Pradesh, expressed concern that India’s democracy is being murdered and the country is becoming a dictatorship.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (90%)
    The authors make an appeal to emotion by describing the opposition's rally as a 'rare show of unity imploring voters to save democracy.' They also use inflammatory rhetoric by stating that 'India is becoming a dictatorship' and that 'our democracy is being murdered.' However, they do not provide any concrete evidence or logical reasoning to support these claims.
    • ]Under the searing New Delhi sun, more than a dozen of India's top opposition leaders joined hands in a rare show of unity imploring voters to save democracy.[
    • To many supporters in the crowd three weeks ago, India is now at a similar crossroads with this high-stakes election deciding which path the country follows.
    • Unless there is a major upset, Modi’s BJP is set to win its third straight five-year term thanks to his potent, populist mix of economic empowerment and Hindu nationalism.
    • About eight in 10 Indian adults have a favorable view of Modi, including 55% who have a very favorable view.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

88%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Turnout down by 4 per cent points in Phase 1 over 2019, EC looks at ways to bring more voters out

The Indian Express Arun Janardhanan, Saturday, 20 April 2024 13:34
  • Unique Points
    • Approximately 48 lakh enrolled voters did not turn up to vote compared to last time if overall decline is around four percentage points.
    • Tamil Nadu political leaders attributed the subdued voter turnout to extreme temperatures and a lack of enthusiasm due to three-cornered contest.
    • Notable decrease in voter turnout was observed in several areas like Thoothukudi and Chennai Central.
  • Accuracy
    • Approximately 65.5% turnout in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in 2023.
    • Turnout decreased in 19 out of the 21 states and Union Territories.
    • Tamil Nadu saw a decrease of roughly 3 percentage points, from 72.44% to 69.46%.
    • Uttarakhand witnessed a dip of almost six percentage points, from 61.88% to 55.89%.
    • Rajasthan experienced a decrease in turnout by over six percentage points – from 64% to 57.65%.
    • Polling was held in 56 villages of Bastar that had been affected by Left Wing Extremism and saw an increase of over 1%.
    • Meghalaya’s two seats experienced an increase, from 71% to 74%.
    • The first phase of voting usually sets the tone for subsequent phases and recorded the highest turnout in previous elections.
  • Deception (70%)
    The article reports on a decrease in voter turnout during the first phase of India's Lok Sabha elections. While the authors do not make any editorializing or pontificating statements, they do use emotional manipulation by describing the dip as a 'dip nevertheless' and expressing concern from election officials. The article also engages in selective reporting by focusing on states where turnout decreased significantly and ignoring those where it increased. However, the authors do disclose their sources throughout the article.
    • Despite all that, we have witnessed a dip. It's not an alarming decrease, but a dip nevertheless.
    • It is this pattern that has officers at Nirvachan Sadan concerned.
    • With temperatures expected to rise further in the coming days, this presents a significant challenge ahead for the EC.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains several examples of appeals to authority and inflammatory rhetoric. It also uses a dichotomous depiction in describing the reasons for the dip in voter turnout. However, no formal fallacies are present.
    • With this, 10 states and Union Territories, including Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand, have completed their polling.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

90%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

What’s at stake for India and its allies as polls open in world’s largest election

PBS NewsHour Saturday, 20 April 2024 21:35
  • Unique Points
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Accuracy
    • ] prime minister modi is heavily favored to win a third term[
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication