The 2019 Lok Sabha elections unfolded across seven phases from April 11 to May 19, culminating in the declaration of results for the 17th Lok Sabha on May 23, 2019. Today, the Election Commission is poised to unveil plans for the upcoming general elections to select representatives for the 18th Lok Sabha. The pivotal question lingering in everyone’s minds is whether the EC will opt to streamline the polling process, possibly reducing the number of phases, or maintain a similar structure as observed in 2019.

While the responsibility of safeguarding the electorate from violence and coercion falls on state police and paramilitary forces, the internal security landscape of the nation has notably evolved since 2019. With Jammu and Kashmir adjusting to the abrogation of Article 370 and Maoist insurgency largely contained within the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, the overall internal security situation has exhibited improvement. Despite sporadic instances of political unrest in West Bengal and ethnic tensions among Kukuis and Meiteis in Manipur, stability prevails, albeit concerns persist regarding religious radicalization within minority communities.

With a decrease in terror incidents across the heartland, barring occasional strikes in the Rajouri-Poonch sector since 2019, the EC finds itself presented with an opportunity to potentially streamline the election process. A month-long, resource-intensive endeavor involving significant manpower and material could possibly be curtailed. However, prudence dictates a cautious approach, as potential challenges such as political violence and terror threats loom large during the electoral period.

In an era dominated by sophisticated AI technology capable of producing deep fake content, India’s adversaries, including major global powers, may exploit this juncture to sway public opinion in favor of their preferred political entities. Moreover, entities like the Pakistani deep state could activate sleeper cells to instigate violence or orchestrate cyberattacks during the electoral process. While India has grappled with persistent cyber threats originating from China and Eastern European nations since 2019, the government’s resolve remains steadfast in ensuring uninterrupted governance and decision-making, even amidst electoral fervor.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized that governance must continue unabated during elections, underscoring the imperative for efficiency. As the present government remains committed to fulfilling its duties until the very end of its term, the onus rests on the Election Commission to consider streamlining the election phases, enabling the nation to transition seamlessly from electoral proceedings to regular governance without prolonged political entanglement.