New Delhi: Consider the eye-catching number: one estimate says 64 countries went to polls with about 49 per cent of the world population in the poll net. Marking a year of data high points, 2024 crashed several records on candidacy, voter turnout, retention and rejection, and a lot more on polls. As the year winds up rather quickly with Christmas marking the informal log out for festive season, the last about 358 days reveal an electoral political storyline that measures way above the impressive plethora of data points.

The vote for democracy has clearly defied the law of diminishing returns. The broad consensus emerging is a vote for change or endorsing continuity with change. In some cases, a marked change. As they say, the status quo isn’t a virtue of the wise. Challenging it is a sign of application of mind. But then choices made don’t always reflect the best.

Therefore, democracy in motion, is said to be a near panacea to many ills. Must, though, say with a lament that stability is yet elusive in many cases and therefore, only adds to the VUCA sentiment currently dominating the proceedings globally. Let us begin with where it all began. Bangladesh set........

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