Contesting Democratic Deficit

By 2024, the ten-year tenure of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government had redefined power dynamics with centralized control and divisive rhetoric. Many felt democracy was slipping away. The Congress Party embarked on a tireless fight to restore hope in India’s democracy amidst a decade of eroding trust in democratic institutions. In Contesting Democratic Deficit: An Inside Story of the 2024 Elections, Salman Khurshid, with Mritunjay Singh Yadav, casts aside the usual partisan talking points and examines the narrative of these volatile times. The authors begin by reflecting on a nation gripped by disillusionment—where economic disparities, social polarization, and institutional subversion cast a long shadow over its democratic fabric. Faced with this crisis, the Congress launched an unprecedented revival effort. From the emotionally charged Bharat Jodo Yatra that connected leaders with the people, to the historic formation of the INDIA alliance uniting diverse political forces, Khurshid and Yadav recount how Opposition parties rallied to defend the idea of an inclusive, pluralistic India. This pivotal election became a referendum on democracy itself, with society viewing it as an opportunity to reclaim constitutional values and reject authoritarianism.

Salman Khurshid is a senior member of the Indian National Congress; he is a member of the Congress Working Committee and Central Election Committee. As minister, he has held important portfolios including external affairs. In his previous assignments, he has been General Secretary of the party and President of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee twice. He studied at St Stephen’s College, Delhi University, and Oxford University.

Mritunjay Singh Yadav is an alumnus of Delhi University and currently pursuing his PhD at Jawaharlal Nehru University, specializing in Machine Learning and Data Science. He was elected as a member of the JNU Students’ Union. He was also part of the Congress War Room during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.