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Unpacking Public Satisfaction: An Analysis of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections

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  • Vibha Attri
  • Jyoti Mishra

Abstract

Voters’ perception of how satisfied they are with the work of the incumbent government is decisive for their voting decision, with satisfaction in most cases leading to support for the incumbent government and dissatisfaction leading to votes against it. This article is not about exploring the relationship between satisfaction with the incumbent party’s performance and voting for it. The main objective is to identify the factors that contribute to voter satisfaction. What aspects of the incumbent government’s performance or policy influence their positive assessment? Considering the election campaigns and prominent issues leading up to the elections and drawing insights from existing literature, this analysis examines the potential determinants of voter satisfaction. It aims to identify how these factors explain voter satisfaction or dissatisfaction. The findings reveal that voter satisfaction with the incumbent government during the 2024 Lok Sabha election was mainly influenced by recent and visible accomplishments rather than long-term factors. The construction of the Ram Mandir and positive evaluations of the government’s performance on economic issues played a significant role in increasing satisfaction.

Suggested Citation

  • Vibha Attri & Jyoti Mishra, 2024. "Unpacking Public Satisfaction: An Analysis of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections," Studies in Indian Politics, , vol. 12(2), pages 318-335, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:indpol:v:12:y:2024:i:2:p:318-335
    DOI: 10.1177/23210230241293225
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