Norwegian diplomat Erik Solheim has hailed India’s electoral process and urged Western observers to “celebrate” rather than question the country’s democratic credentials, following the BJP’s recent state election victories.
In a post on X, Solheim pointed to the scale and conduct of elections in India, describing them as a testament to the strength of its democratic system.
“Don’t fear, celebrate Indian democracy,” he wrote, congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi on what he called a “big victory” in key state polls.
The remarks come after the BJP’s strong performance in multiple state elections, including significant gains in West Bengal and Assam, reinforcing the party’s continued dominance in national and regional politics.
Solheim highlighted voter participation as a key marker of democratic health.
"BJP has won a massive victory in state elections in West Bengal and Assam. The turn out was extraordinary high, more than 90%, far above normal participation in European and American elections. With a population of 106 million West Bengal is much larger than any nation in the European Union, so this matters!" he wrote on X.
Solheim’s comments also push back against sections of Western media that have been critical of the Modi government.
"The result should give western media a pause. They very often present prime minister Modi as a threat to democracy and his policies as some sort of Hindu extremism. The reality is exactly the opposite. Indian is not only the worlds largest democracy in size - its also one of the most solid in content because its not a western transplant but rooted in Indian traditions and history," the post read.
"When BJP performed below expectations in the 2024 parliament elections, many western media wrote as if it was the beginning of the end for Modiji. Since then the BJP has won state elections in Odisha, Haryana, Delhi, Maharashtra, Bihar - and now Assam and West Bengal. What a revenge!" he highlighted.
He argued that India’s democratic model is not merely institutional, but deeply rooted in its own historical and cultural traditions.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
