In both countries the leading opposition parties, largely written off because of an unfavourable playing field, delivered unexpectedly strong results that significantly weakened the incoming coalition governments’ mandate. A strong mandate in Pakistan and India requires a strong win in these countries’ largest provinces. In India, two politicians leading key opposition parties were arrested, and the Indian National Congress’s funds were frozen right on the eve of the election. As a result, Mr Khan’s PTI performed astonishingly well in the election, despite all the handicaps placed on it. But unlike in India and Pakistan, the leading opposition parties in Bangladesh chose to boycott the election that they viewed to be flawed, rather than mobilise voters around an alternative vision.
Source: Ethiopian News June 21, 2024 09:13 UTC