A Tale of Two Democracies: What Separates the US and India
The United States of America is credited as the world’s oldest modern democracy, while India is its largest. Coincidentally, recent events in these two nations tell us two vastly different stories about the state of their democratic systems.
Resilience of American Democracy in the Trump Era
In the United States, November 2024 saw the return of Donald Trump to the White House for a second term. The very fact that he could return to power through democratic means—despite numerous legal and constitutional challenges—was in itself a testament to the strength of electoral politics.
Since taking office, Trump has charted an unpredictable course, testing the limits of presidential authority: imposing extreme tariffs on friends and foes alike, deporting immigrants in unprecedented numbers, and making erratic foreign policy moves. Although he campaigned as a “peace president,” he has given full-throated support to Netanyahu’s actions in Gaza despite a ceasefire, reversed his stance on the Ukraine war without bringing it to an end, threatened war with Nigeria, and killed dozens of Venezuelans at sea with the prospect of an invasion looming.
Trump enjoys full control over the US Senate, the House of Representatives, and even the Supreme Court. Yet, despite this near-total institutional dominance, his actions have faced strong resistance. Mass anti-deportation protests erupted across major cities like Los Angeles. “No Kings” marches challenged his increasing authoritarian tilt. Multiple lawsuits were filed questioning his authority to impose tariffs or deport legal residents. The democratic machinery—courts, citizens, civic movements—mobilized against what some describe as a “Frankenstein” president created through the very power of the vote.
Perhaps the most striking example of democratic vitality came when Zohran Kwame Mamdani, a political outsider, was elected mayor of New York City—arguably the most globally influential city. Mamdani campaigned on positions diametrically opposed to Trump’s: condemning the Gaza genocide, vowing to arrest Netanyahu if he visited New York, and pledging universal childcare, free rapid bus services, and rent control—social welfare measures rarely heard in mainstream US politics. His overwhelming victory, supported by people across communities, stands as proof that in a truly vibrant democracy, the ballot can catapult the most unlikely individual to high office.
Critics may argue that New York is historically a Democratic stronghold, and Mamdani’s win is not reflective of national trends. But such an argument ignores the fact that the United States has never seen a socialist close to a presidential nomination. The closest was Bernie Sanders in 2016 and 2020—each time outmaneuvered by mainstream Democratic leaders. Even Trump himself garnered support from independent voters disillusioned with the political establishment, partly by addressing populist concerns like sky-high drug prices.
In essence, Mamdani’s victory captures the enduring vigor of American democracy and reinforces the idea that ordinary voters still wield immense power.
Challenges to Indian Democracy and Electoral Integrity in the Modi Era
Turning to India, in the same year—2024—Narendra Modi returned to power for a historic third term. Ignoring everything else for a moment, the mere fact that a government that presided over major crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the draconian lockdown, persistent inflation, and soaring youth unemployment, could comfortably return to office suggests stagnation within the democratic system.
More troubling are the mounting concerns over large-scale irregularities in the electoral process. With no national census conducted for nearly 15 years, the electoral roll—built on an outdated population base—is inherently flawed. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi’s revelations, backed by ground-level evidence from Karnataka in August 2025, exposed massive voter roll manipulation: deletion of hundreds of thousands of legitimate voters, addition of fake and duplicate entries, and anomalies that amount to the nullification of the very foundation of democracy—universal suffrage.
This is far more alarming than allegations of electoral bonds or vote-buying through money and liquor. The issue is no longer simply machine malfunction or EVM conspiracy. It is about the right to vote itself.
Rahul Gandhi’s more recent “H-bomb” revelation regarding the Haryana Assembly elections only deepened these concerns. The repeated pattern of the same party winning state after state, with no proportionate evidence of governance performance, raises legitimate questions. The Bihar Assembly results are the latest example: near-perfect strike rates for the ruling alliance and inexplicable improvements compared to Lok Sabha results in the same regions.
The essential democratic principle—the power of the average voter—appears eroded. When outcomes become eerily predictable, voters begin to lose faith in the system. This sense of resignation is dangerous; it signals the slow death of democracy.
Compounding these issues is the Modi government’s sweeping influence over key institutions—the judiciary, the CBI, the ED, and even civil society. Unlike the US example, where institutions and civic movements mount credible resistance, India lacks a sufficiently independent institutional ecosystem to counterbalance executive overreach.
A Way Forward
Though the situation looks bleak, lessons from the Mamdani phenomenon offer a flicker of hope. In India, only a well-organized opposition, backed by strong ideological clarity, can meaningfully challenge electoral manipulation—particularly through mechanisms like Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Organizational strength, ideological cohesion, and sustained grassroots mobilization are essential. Anything less will not stand against the BJP juggernaut in its current form.
