India’s 2024 general elections mark a pivotal moment in the country’s democratic landscape. This talk explores contemporary democratic processes through the lens of grassroots movements and opposition strategies, focusing on the Indian National Congress’ nationwide campaigns: the 4,000 km Bharat Jodo Yatra from South to North and the 6,600 km Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from East to West. Offering an insider’s perspective, the speaker examines how these campaigns engaged citizens across the country through active listening, network mobilization, and strategic narrative-building. The discussion will highlight the interplay between public participation, political communication, and counter-narratives in modern India, shedding light on pathways for democratic renewal and transformation.

Varun Santhosh has been deeply involved with India’s Congress Party for over a decade. Most recently, he served as Vice-Chairman of the Indian National Congress’ National War Room during the 2024 parliamentary elections, overseeing campaign strategy and grassroots volunteer coordination. Previously, he was a senior staffer on the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment, Forests & Climate Change. He also played a key role in organizing the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi. He has worked closely with prominent MPs, including Jairam Ramesh and Rajeev Gowda. His published research focuses on election laws, electoral reforms, and public funding of elections. We hope you can join us for this session. Hosted by GDC – Fostering Democratic Elections in Diverse Societies Lab