EVaP at the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) Panel Discussion

In Indian elections and across the world, there is concern that misinformation, polarisation, or even violence in election campaigns threaten the conduct of free and fair elections. This panel discusses these topics with a focus on the most recent legislative assembly elections in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. Two of the panelists, Ursula Daxecker and Neeraj Prasad, will present findings from these elections on two topics; i) the role of campaign misinformation on partisan and intergroup polarisation, and ii) how voters respond to peaceful or violent behaviour by political actors. The panel will discuss, synthesize and contextualize these findings. Panelists will draw on their own expertise and perspective to shed light on overlooked aspects of these topics and the broader context of Indian politics.