Ideological Mobilization vis-a-vis Populism: A Case Study of Delhi

Abstract

The nature of democracy is determined by electoral system. Citizens as voters express themselves through elections. Elections are a review of the incumbent government and an opportunity for alternative political parties. It offers accountability and assessment in a political system. Political parties compete for votes and mobilise the masses on basis of charismatic leaders, ideology, issues that govern public policies, primordial identities such as caste, religion, region, culture, and language. This chapter attempts to categorically analyse the role of ideology vis-à-vis populism in mobilizing political mobilization and participation in Delhi by a specific case study of Delhi Assembly Election 2020, comparing with Lok Sabha 2019 and 2014 for a holistic analysis of variables of political mobilization. The study is based on analysis by the Election Commission of India and a psephology exercise with more than eighty-five thousand samples conducted by the Centre for Global Studies, formerly known as Developing Countries Research Centre, University of Delhi.