| Abstract: | Electoral politics occupies a central position in the functioning of representative democracy because elections provide citizens with an institutional mechanism to select representatives, evaluate governments and communicate political preferences. In India, electoral behaviour has historically been examined through the perspectives of caste, class, religion, region, party identification and political mobilisation. However, the changing character of Indian democracy suggests that voting decisions increasingly involve several overlapping considerations, including economic conditions, welfare, government performance, leadership, candidate image, political identity and changing forms of political communication. This paper examines the changing determinants of electoral politics in India with particular reference to the 2024 Lok Sabha election. The study adopts a descriptive and analytical research design based on secondary sources, including Election Commission of India (ECI) data, Lokniti-Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) election studies, recent peer-reviewed research and established scholarship on Indian politics. The analysis focuses on voter participation, women’s electoral participation, social identity, economic considerations, government performance, party competition and political communication. The evidence indicates that contemporary Indian electoral politics cannot adequately be explained by a single factor. Social identities continue to influence political mobilisation, but economic perceptions, welfare, government performance and leadership have become significant components of electoral choice. The 2024 election also demonstrates the increasing importance of women as electoral participants. The paper argues that Indian voting behaviour is best understood through a multidimensional framework in which structural identities and individual evaluations interact within particular political and regional contexts. The study contributes to the literature by integrating sociological, economic, institutional and political-communication approaches to contemporary Indian electoral politics. |
