US Hails India's Polls As 'Voice To A Vibrant Democracy'

White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said that there were not many "vibrant" democracies like India.

John Kirby, White House national security communications advisor, speaks during a news conference.

Source : Getty

The White House said that there were not too many vibrant democracies while applauding the people of India for exercising their right to vote, in the ongoing Lok Sabha Elections. According to PTI, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby during a press conference in Washington responded to a question regarding the ongoing elections 

In the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, over 969 million people are exercising their right to vote at one million polling stations to elect 545 Members of Parliament from thousands of candidates representing as many as 2,660 registered political parties.

He was quoted as saying by PTI, “Not too many more vibrant democracies in the world than India. We applaud the Indian people for exercising, you know, their ability to vote, and to have a voice in their future government. And we wish them well throughout the process, of course”. 

#WATCH | On general elections in India, NSC Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby says, "Not too many more vibrant democracies in the world than India. We applaud the Indian people for exercising their ability to vote and to have a voice in their future government. And… pic.twitter.com/RWs7iQtbEt

— ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2024

Kirby further said the India-US relationship has strengthened under Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last three years of the Biden administration. “Our relationship with India is extremely close and getting closer,” he added. “You saw it on a State visit. We launched all kinds of new initiatives, working on critical emerging technologies together, and bolstering and expanding the relevance of the Indo-Pacific quad, of course, which India is a part of. And then, just the people-to-people exchanges, and the military that we share with India,” Kirby added. 

He called it a vibrant, and very active partnership. He said they were grateful for PM Modi’s leadership. 

When asked if President Joe Biden believes that India and Japan are xenophobic countries, he responded in the negative and said that Biden was recently making a broader point. “I mean, the president was making a broader point here about the vibrancy of our own democracy, here in the United States, and how inclusive and participatory it is,” Kirby was quoted by PTI. 

Fifth Phase Of Lok Sabha Elections

The four phases of voting in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections have concluded and the fifth phase is set to take place on May 20. In this phase, 49 Lok Sabha constituencies covering 8 states and two UTs are set to go to polls. Key states such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Maharashtra will go to polls in Phase 5. As per the Election Commission of India (ECI), the fifth phase of the seven-phase Lok Sabha 2024 elections will occur on May 20. The counting of votes are set to take place on June 4.