Taking the battle to the streets

In the Lok Sabha elections this year, Indian democracy had glimpsed a sliver of hope — a window cracked open not by political parties but by the people themselves. Much like the historic verdict of 1977 post-Emergency, the electorate in 2024 pushed open a window in the wall that had been erected against constitutional democracy. This was a chance for Opposition parties to transform that window into a door and rally to safeguard the nation.

Tragically, Indian political parties typically buckle under the weight of such onerous responsibility. Just six months later, with three state assembly elections behind us, that window of hope has narrowed to a skylight. The burden now shifts back to the citizens and civil society to intensify their fight to preserve the spirit of the Indian Constitution.

To turn this glimmer of hope into a real opportunity, it was imperative to follow up the BJP’s setback in the Lok Sabha elections with a string of defeats in the subsequent assembly elections. The task was challenging but not impossible. In Maharashtra, the INDIA coalition (MVA or Maha Vikas Aghadi) had won 30 of 48 Lok Sabha seats and seemed well-positioned for an assembly victory. In Haryana, where the Lok Sabha results were split 5–5, the Congress looked a clear favourite in the assembly polls.

Jharkhand presented a tougher challenge: the BJP and its allies held an edge in the Lok Sabha elections, but it was still possible that a concerted effort might secure a win for the JMM-led alliance.

What happened, though, was just the opposite. In Jharkhand, where victory seemed the hardest, the INDIA coalition triumphed decisively. In Haryana, where the Congress was expected to win, it lost. In Maharashtra, which seemed a near-certain win for the opposition, the INDIA coalition was wiped out.

While these results are controversial — the Opposition has raised questions about the outcome in both Haryana and Maharashtra — it’s important to focus on their implications. Having witnessed electoral outcomes for 35 years, I can’t help noticing shades of last year’s shocking results in Madhya Pradesh. Something seems amiss. But leaving aside the dispute over the authenticity of this mandate, let’s examine the fallout.

One thing is certain: the Modi government, which had appeared subdued after the Lok Sabha elections, will now regain its swagger. This shift was evident in the prime minister’s remarks during the parliamentary session following the Maharashtra win.

While it may still be difficult for the BJP to push through dramatic constitutional changes like ‘One Nation, One Election’, it will press ahead with its broader agenda. Be it laws targeting waqf boards, the introduction of a Uniform Civil Code, or census-driven delimitation, these initiatives will likely gain momentum.

Simultaneously, efforts to suppress dissent will escalate — be it tightening control over social media platforms like YouTube or cracking down on people’s movements, activists and opposition leaders.

Economic policies favouring a few industrial conglomerates will accelerate unchecked. Issues that had cornered the government, such as the controversies surrounding SEBI and Gautam Adani, will now be brushed aside. Over the next year, the ruling party will spin its decisions as being in the national interest. Within the NDA, the BJP’s dominance will grow, and within the BJP, Modi’s hold will tighten.

In this scenario, the responsibility of protecting constitutional democracy and the soul of India falls squarely on civil society, grassroots movements and conscientious citizens.

While Opposition parties are expected to resist the government’s undemocratic agenda in Parliament, their influence may be limited. Their most significant contribution would be to thwart the BJP in upcoming elections in Delhi and Bihar.

Yet, the real battleground for the fight to save democracy will shift from Parliament to the streets. Non-violent protests and grassroots campaigns will become the primary tools of resistance. Unemployment, inflation, farmer distress, atrocities against Dalits, tribals, women and minorities — these are the issues that civil society must rally around. Scandals like those involving Adani won’t gain traction unless these concerns are amplified through mass movements.

But the fight extends beyond the streets and Parliament — it is also a cultural battle. Ultimately, preserving the soul of India is an ideological struggle. The vision of India crafted during the freedom movement must be protected, reimagined and conveyed to each new generation in their language and idiom.

The bitter truth is that post-Independence generations of Indian citizens have failed to conscientiously fulfil this responsibility. This failure has enabled anti-constitutional and divisive ideologies to seize power. The only way to counter this is to yoke the principles of the Constitution to the everyday aspirations of the people.

On the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution, it is the duty of every citizen who still believes in its values to rise to the occasion.

The opportunity still exists. A window may have closed, but the skylight is still open.