The Role of the New Indian Middle Class in Lok Sabha General Elections 2009 and 2014: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Indian democracy in the age of globalisation is highly influenced by the demographic transformation in the society. Dispensing with the erstwhile traditional barriers like casteism, religions and languages, the current Indian society is represented mainly by the new Indian middle class. This class is a convergent one with amelioration of the below-middle class people to this class. Obviously there is hierarchy among this class. Sometimes, the upper rung of the middle class is treated as the elites. This class has good purchase capacity and inclination towards a consumerist life-style. This class, therefore, not politically involved throughout the year but politically active and vibrant in its electoral capacity. This class has become a no-negligible in the election results particularly since 2009. In 2014 itself, the new Indian middle class became decisive in 2014 Lok Sabha General Election. Here, it is an attempt to explore a comparative study of the 2009 and 2014 Lok Sabha General Elections in terms of this class being a determinant and decisive factor.