Indian stability in the midst of the South Asian chaos

With all the flaws in our democracy, various political parties in India are always active in mobilising people and ventilating grievances

- JAYAPRAKASH NARAYAN

Several political convulsions in our South Asian subcontinent over the past three years once again demonstrate the fragility of democratic systems.

Sri Lanka witnessed a mass uprising against the Rajapaksa government, and the regime was forced to resign in July 2022. Happily, the steady hand of Ranil Wickremesinghe as acting president, the election of Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the left-wing coalition as president in the September 2024 election, and the peaceful transfer of power preserved the constitutional order and restored political stability. But in the process, the major parties were marginalised, and the NPP coalition emerged victorious, reflecting voters' disenchantment with established parties.

Bangladesh witnessed another uprising against the Sheikh Hasina government in August 2024 that ended in her resignation and the formation of an interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus. Though Sheikh Hasina's leadership accelerated economic growth in the country, her politics of vengeance and the absence of parliamentary opposition led to the uprising. An election is expected to be held in February 2026. Whether it will bring stability and legitimacy to a future government is an open question.

Now Nepal witnessed another youth uprising, forcing the resignation of KP Sharma Oli's coalition government, the dissolution of parliament, and an interim government headed by Sushila Karki, a former chief justice. The interim government announced elections in six months, and we will have to see if the stability, order and legitimacy of the government will be restored.