India

India: monthly report June 2024

The month of June opened in India with the publication of the results of the elections of the Lokh Saba, the Lower House (or House of the People). The electoral process, which lasted a month and a half, brought almost a billion citizens to the polls to elect the 543 Members of Parliament. There were two major contenders: the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), an alliance among the major Bharatya Janata Party and various regional parties, and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), which brought together almost all the opposition parties, mostly center-left/left (including 3 national parties, the Indian National Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party and the Communist Party of India and over 20 parties representing the various states). The results of the vote confirmed the victory of the ruling alliance, which gained 293 seats. The BJP, the coalition’s hegemonic party, emerged victorious from elections, but it did not independently reach a relative majority of seats, and therefore needs, for the first time in 10 years, MPs from allied parties to govern. The new government took office in the days immediately following the count, confirming most of the Ministers, especially those in key positions (Interior, Foreign Affairs, Defense, Finance, Trade). The swearing-in ceremony was attended by the Heads of State and Government of neighboring countries (with the obvious exception of Pakistan), confirming the “Neighborhood First” policy of Indian foreign policy – a strategy also witnessed by the fact that the first State visit to India after the inauguration of the new Modi government was carried out on 21 and 22 June by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Asina. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit abroad after the elections was to attend, on 13 and 14 June, the G7 Outreach Summit in Borgo Egnazia, at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Among the bilateral meetings, those with President Meloni, and with the leaders of France, Great Britain, Japan and Ukraine were significant. During the summit, Modi discussed AI, among other things, and renewed his commitment to prioritise the Global South, and Africa in particular, recalling that during India's Presidency, the African Union became a permanent member of the G20. In the meeting with Giorgia Meloni, Modi emphasized the relations between Italy and India in the framework of the Strategic Partnership. Both called for the development of collaborations on topics such as clean energy, manufacturing, space, science and technology, telecommunications, artificial intelligence and critical minerals. Further discussions were made on defence and security and a wish was expressed to strengthen cooperation in the field of defence industry. On the domestic front, the Vadhavan Port project, a massive infrastructure on the Arabian Sea in the north of the state of Maharashtra, was approved during the month; expected to be finished in 2039, it will be built is two phases. The port is of double interest to Indians: it will serve as the main hub for the India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and will be crucial for the International North South Transportation Corridor (INSTC), promoting the movement of goods to the port of Chabahar in Iran (managed by India following the agreement signed last May), which has a strategic value as it is a vital artery for commercial traffic to Afghanistan, Central Asia, Russia and Europe. On the domestic policy front, the appointment of Rahul Gandhi, heir to the NehruGandhi dynasty, as leader of the opposition, should be highlighted. This role is only granted to the party that has reached 10% of the MPs, a situation that had not occurred in the past 10 years.

Download the June 2024 report

• Previous reports
  • Report di May 2024
  • Report di April 2024
  • Report di February 2024
  • Report di November 2023
  • Report di October 2023