INTRODUCTION
With the inception of Behavioural revolution in Political science, study of voting behaviour entered the scope of the subject. It is referred to as psephology. There are various factors that influence voting behaviour. It refers to different determinants or situations which affect, inspire the decision and mind of voters against or for a particular candidate or a party.
DETERMINANTS OF VOTING BEHAVIOUR :-
- EDUCATION :- literate people will consider voting as their National duty and will do regular voting and are aware of the importance of voting rights.
- ECONOMIC CONDITIONS :- Rich people vote more to protect their self interest while poor are more strategic voters so political parties tend to target them more.
- CASTE :- People vote on the basis of caste. Political parties demand votes by targeting different castes putting different slogans out like,'Jat ki beti Jat ko, Jat ka vote Jat ko'. There are various political parties based on caste such as SP, BSP.
- LANGUAGE :- Several riots began on the basis of language due to which different states were created. In south Anti zhindi feelings are created by different regional political parties.
- ELECTION MANIFESTOS :- During elections political parties launch different manifestos in the form of different promises which convert the minds of people to vote for them.
- IDEOLOGICAL COMMITMENTS :- In India people follow certain ideologies of political parties and remain loyal to them. They vote only for one political party from generation to generation.
- POPULAR SLOGANS :- certain slogans are raised by political parties looking at current situations fur example 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan','Garibi Hatao', 'Abki baar Modi Sarkar' and more which hit people emotionally and made them vote for that party.
- CHARISMATIC PERSONALITY :- People of India vote for leaders too. They are influenced by the personality of leaders like Pt. Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Narendra Modi, etc.
- MASS MEDIA :- Media plays an important role in converting the minds of voters by opinion polls, advertisement, and depicting failures and achievements of parties.
CONCLUSION
From the above discussion it is clear that voting behaviour of people is influenced or determined by different factors and determinants. It is not permanent and keeps on changing from person to person and place to place.