India: The Vote Is In, What Comes Next?

The largest democracy in the world is voting. And some consider the general elections in India a referendum on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Public opinion on his government stretches the whole gamut: From the conviction that he is the only politician who would be able to end corrup-tion and drive India’s economy forward to serious concerns regarding the more populist and polar-ising streaks of his party BJP. His greatest rival is the traditional Congress Party with its leader Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi, who has recently entered politics and the campaign.

Around 900 million people are entitled to vote in India’s general election from 11 April to 19 May, and millions took right to the polls when the proceeding began. The counting of votes will be con-cluded on 23 May 2019.

What do the elections in this South Asian giant mean for India’s own people? What implications will the election results have for Germany, Europe, and the world at large? Our expert panel debates.

Panel Professor Sumit Ganguly is a Distinguished Professor of Political Science and holds the Rabindranath Tagore Chair in Indian Cultures and Civilizations at Indiana University, Bloomington.

Professor Amrita Narlikar is the President of the GIGA and Professor of International Relations at the University of Hamburg.

Ambassador Markus Potzel is Special Representative of the German Federal Government for Afghanistan and Pakistan and the Federal Foreign Office Director for South Asia.

Moderation Dr. Theo Sommer is a journalist and former editor-in-chief of many years at DIE ZEIT.

The panel discussion will be preceded by opening words from GIGA President Professor Amrita Narlikar and the Consul General of India in Hamburg Madan Lal Raigar.

Following the event, there will be an opportunity for further exchange during a reception.