Has India’s election rhetoric reached rock bottom?

As a loud chorus of divisive slogans, inflammatory claims and vicious personal attacks echoed across the campaign for Lok Sabha Election 2024, it became disturbingly clear that no line of decency would be left uncrossed by political leaders in the relentless quest for power. From hints of favouring “infiltrators” and undermining national unity to dehumanising taunts branding opponents as “puppets,” “scamsters” and even Pakistani stooges, the torrent of poisonous rhetoric seemed never-ending. The inflammatory words flowed freely from the ruling BJP camp and opposition alike, with little regard for consequences in an overheated campaign that saw dignity, civility, and substantive debate tragically drowned out by the shrill discourse of provocation and polarisation.

Never before had an Indian election seen such depths of reckless hostility and venom in its rhetoric. Experts warn that the damaging effects could linger far beyond the final vote, with the widespread proliferation of disinformation and divisive messaging injecting dangerous levels of communal poison into politics. Political scientists lament the race to the bottom between parties trying to outdo each other’s inflammatory statements, suggesting that the whole spectacle has been utterly disillusioning for anyone who still clung to the idea of electoral politics upholding democracy rather than diminishing it.

Controversial remarks

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Banswada, Rajasthan, on April 21 accused the Indian National Congress of intending to distribute the country’s wealth to “infiltrators” and those with more children. This statement not only stokes communal tensions but also perpetuates stereotypes and fears among the populace.

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Narendra Modi in Gujarat on May 1 suggested that the Congress would confiscate one of every two buffaloes if it won the election, a hyperbolic statement that trivialises serious economic issues. Yogi Adityanath in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, on May 10 urged voters to support the BJP to see “Ram Rajya” in India, a term often associated with a utopian Hindu kingdom. This rhetoric risks alienating non-Hindu communities and exacerbates religious divisions.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh in Jharkhand on April 18 declared that those opposing Modi belong in Pakistan, a statement that questions the patriotism of dissenters and silences legitimate political opposition.

BRS leader K Chandrashekhar Rao on March 17 used derogatory language to describe Hindus, calling them “like gutter,” further deepening communal divides and offending religious sentiments. BJP leader and Assam’s CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on April 16 called Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi “Amul babies,” reducing political debate to name-calling and distracting from substantive policy discussions.

Rahul Gandhi in Lucknow on May 10 referred to Narendra Modi as a “puppet king” controlled by “tempo billionaires,” implying that the Prime Minister serves the interests of the wealthy rather than the public. Such accusations undermine the credibility of democratic leadership and foster distrust among citizens.

Rahul Gandhi in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, on May 1 claimed that if the BJP came to power, 22,000 people would be killed, an alarming and baseless assertion that spreads fear and panic among voters.

Jairam Ramesh in Jaipur on April 23 criticised Modi’s language, suggesting he is a “Vish Guru” (poisonous teacher) rather than a “Vishwa Guru” (world teacher). Such personal attacks divert attention from substantive policy discussions and reduce the campaign to a series of insults.

A more comprehensive, verbatim list of controversial remarks is given below: 

Is there hope?

Despite the vicious atmosphere, democracy activists refuse to give up hope, vowing instead to redouble efforts at combating the rising tide of hate speech and toxic divisiveness through civic education and grassroots movements.  Whether such optimism proves true in the coming weeks remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that India’s political discourse has sunk to a low that many feel will be extremely difficult to recover from. Restoring democratic dignity and banishing bigotry from electoral arenas will surely rank among the crucial challenges confronting the nation - whoever emerges victorious from this most acrimonious of campaigns.