Publication

This brief assesses the influence of economic conditions on Indian general elections since 1990, with a focus on the 2014 parliamentary elections. In order to assess whether the 2014 general election is being held under particularly difficult conditions, the author compares the economic situation in that year with previous elections. He concludes that the 2014 elections will take place amidst an overall gloomy and downcast economic situation, with the worst industrial and manufacturing scenario of the last seven general elections. He speculates that if economic factors dominate voting decisions, the incumbent Congress-led United Progressive Alliance will lose.