2024 is just not an election year. It’s perhaps the election year” says an article in the Time magazine. Over 50 nations alongside the European Union are set to conduct national elections. The collective voice of approximately 49% of the world’s population will reverate through the ballot boxes. The outcome of these elections are expected to shape the political landscape of nations far and wide for years to come. Besides India five countries in South Asia were poised to hold elections. While India, Maldives and Sri Lanka are all set to go to polls this year, elections in Pakistan and Bangladesh have been held. The results of these elections would impact New Delhi’s strategic decisions and future relationships. Elections dates in India are expected to be announced shortly while elections in Maldives are slated for April 21.Sri Lanka will be heading for elections sometime between September and October. On the global stage all eyes, however, are on the mega clash between Donal Trump and US President Joe Biden, seeking his second term. Tensions between India and the Maldives have flared in recent months, casting a shadow over their longstanding economic and diplomatic ties. What began as a spat over the comparative merits of their respective tourism industries has rapidly escalated into a diplomatic standoff, marked by the summoning of envoys and the suspension of Maldivian officials. As India emerges as the Maldives’ third-largest trading partner and a crucial source of tourism revenue, the rift between the two nations threatens to disrupt their mutually beneficial relationship. The genesis of the dispute traces back to December 2023 when three Maldivian deputy ministers reportedly made derogatory remarks about India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Incensed by these inflammatory comments, India swiftly raised the issue with the Maldivian government, demanding an explanation and appropriate action. In response, the Maldives took the unprecedented step of suspending the implicated ministers, signaling a willingness to address the diplomatic fallout. However, despite this initial attempt at reconciliation, strains in bilateral relations persist, with both sides engaging in a tit-for-tat exchange that has further strained diplomatic channels. The escalation of tensions underscores the fragility of the relationship between India and the Maldives and raises concerns about the potential ramifications for regional stability and economic cooperation. As the standoff continues to unfold, observers are closely monitoring developments, hoping for a de-escalation of tensions and a return to constructive dialogue between these two strategically significant nations in the Indian Ocean region. As Sri Lanka gears up for its upcoming presidential election later this year, the island nation finds itself at a crossroads in its foreign relations, with domestic politics increasingly shaped by competing allegiances to regional powers. Once viewed as a steadfast ally of India, Sri Lanka’s political landscape now reflects a tug-of-war between pro-China and pro-India factions, leading to a fluctuation in bilateral ties. The dynamics of this geopolitical chessboard were starkly highlighted in 2022 when Sri Lanka plunged into economic turmoil, defaulting on its international debt and grappling with acute shortages of essential commodities like food and fuel. Faced with mounting public unrest and widespread protests, the country’s pro-China president was ousted from power, setting the stage for a recalibration of Sri Lanka’s foreign policy orientation.In a bid to stabilize its neighbor and prevent further escalation of the crisis, India stepped in, extending a lifeline to Sri Lanka in the form of a substantial financial assistance package. Valued at $4 billion, this infusion of loans and grants was earmarked for critical supplies such as fuel, medicine, and food, underscoring India’s commitment to bolstering Sri Lanka’s economic resilience and fostering closer ties between the two nations. However, the implications of this strategic maneuver extend beyond immediate relief efforts, with observers closely monitoring how the forthcoming presidential election will shape the trajectory of Indian-Sri Lankan relations. As Sri Lanka navigates a complex web of domestic and international pressures. the outcome of the election holds the potential to redefine the country’s foreign policy priorities and reshape the geopolitical landscape of the Indian Ocean region. In some countries democracy is going to be put on trial as leaders will attempt to tighten their grips and stifle the Opposition. The Hindu quoted the US based International Foundation for Electoral Systems which outlined that -“with 44% of the world now governed by electoral a u t o c r a c i e s , the story of d e m o c r a c y ‘ s prospects this year cannot be told by the record number of ballots that will be cast. Far more telling for the global democratic trajectory in 2024 will be how countries holding elections navigate well-documented trends of rising autocracy and democratic recession.” The Democracy Report 2024’ released by the Gothenburg-based V-Dem Institute that tracks democratic freedoms worldwide has downgraded India as “one of the worst autocratizers.” Indicating that virtually all components of democracy were getting worse in more countries, the report expressed concern over the glaring declines in freedom of expression, where voices once vibrant are now stifled under the weight of censorship and repression. The sacred bedrock of clean elections, essential for the legitimacy of governance, finds itself compromised amidst allegations of manipulation and electoral malpractice. Meanwhile, the vital space for civil society and freedom of association is shrinking, as autocratic regimes clamp down on dissenting voices and curtail the avenues for civic engagement. The report stated the tactics employed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in India, branding it as “anti-pluralist” and accusing it of resorting to draconian measures to stifle dissent. As for Pakistan, the country ranked 107, a drop of three positions from 2021 in the Democracy Index. The voting was held amidst sporadic violence, internet shutdown and with frontrunner and former Prime Minister, Imran Khan in jail. Of the poll bound 60 odd countries the report claimed that over 50 % of these countries were going through democratic decline. It stated that a large number of elections being held this year would determine the “future of democracy in the world.” Questions were being raised over electoral democracy in several countries including Russia. Even before elections were held in Russia the outcome was a foregone conclusion. Vladimir Putin is certain to retain power till 2030. In Bangladesh the elections were marred by Opposition boycott and it was a smooth ride to power for the fourth time for Sheikh Hasina. Besides stifling dissent, countries and leaders leaning towards autocracy have also been using social media aggressively to spread “fake news” or misinformation. Some of the aspiring leaders being accused of spreading false information were from the United States, Germany, Sweden, Brazil and India. It is said that “liberal democracy describes a democratic government with individual freedoms protected by constitutional rights and liberties along with collective rights and liberties all enforced by the rules of law. The society must live by a culture of freedom and liberty whatever have been the results of the elections” But trends in several countries indicate that the fate of electoral democracy hangs in balance.