Declining bipolarity and disintegrating social fabric: Cues from the Lok Sabha election results in Kerala
- Economic & Political Weekly
- 59(39), Oct 12, 2024: p.12-16
This article analyzes the 2024 Lok Sabha election results in Kerala, highlighting the decline of the state’s traditional bipolarity and the fragmentation of its social fabric. Historically dominated by the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF), Kerala’s political landscape has witnessed a significant shift with the unprecedented rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The results marked a setback for the LDF, a sweeping victory for the UDF, and the BJP’s entry into Kerala’s parliamentary representation. These developments reflect broader sociopolitical changes, including the growing acceptance of pan-Hindu consolidation and challenges to secular and pluralist traditions. The article situates these electoral outcomes within debates on federalism, identity politics, and democratic resilience, underscoring how Kerala’s evolving political dynamics mirror deeper transformations in India’s social and cultural fabric. The 2024 election results in Kerala reflect a significant political shift, highlighted by the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party and growing acceptance of a pan-Hindu consolidation. The state’s political bipolarity is waning, while its social fabric shows signs of fragmentation. In this evolving landscape, the Left faces fresh challenges stemming from broader changes in the political economy and cultural dynamics.- Reproduced
Political Science, Kerala, Lok Sabha Elections 2024, Bipolarity, Social Fabric, Congress, Left Democratic Front (LDF), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), United Democratic Front (UDF), Electoral Politics, Federalism, Social Change