NEW DELHI — As India gears up for the largest national elections ever conducted on the planet, the Christian community, although a minority, faces unique challenges that underscore the significance of its political representation.

The issues range from religious persecution to the enforcement of anti-conversion laws, with the recent unrest in the Christian-majority state of Manipur spotlighting the urgent need for Christian voices to be heard.

Making up approximately 2.3 percent of India’s population, the Christian community is an integral part of this Asian nation’s pluralistic society. However, this community often finds itself navigating a complex landscape of religious freedom and cultural integration. Despite constitutional protections, incidents of persecution continue to surface, making the political empowerment of Christians not just beneficial but necessary for safeguarding their rights.

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In a recent report released by the United Christian Forum, a civil society organization based in Delhi and dedicated to Christian concerns, it was uncovered that in the initial three months of this year, there had been a significant decline in the fundamental rights and protections of Indian Christians.

The 2024 Indian election has been a lengthy process. Voting began on April 19 and has proceeded in seven stages until a conclusion on June 1.

The UCF reported that there were 70 violent incidents against Christians in January alone, followed by 62 in the 29 days of February and 29 incidents in the first 15 days of March — totaling 161 incidents over two and a half months. These incidents encompassed violence, assaults on churches or prayer meetings, harassment of individuals practicing their faith, social ostracism, restricted access to communal resources and unfounded accusations, notably concerning what’s called “forced conversions.”

A.C. Michael, a former member of the Delhi state minority commission, told Religion Unplugged that he wants the current ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under the leadership of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lose the upcoming elections.

“The Christian community is in deep prayers these days,” he said. “They want this government to go. There is a fear among the Christian community that if this government comes to power the attacks on Christians will increase.”

He added that under BJP rule, Christians have not only faced physical violence but also legal violence, referring to the anti-conversion laws that currently exist in 12 Indian states.

Persecution and representation

One of the most pressing issues for the Christian community in India is the prevalence of anti-conversion laws enacted by various states. These laws — often justified as measures to prevent coerced conversions — have been criticized for their potential misuse against minorities. They create an atmosphere of suspicion and hostility, deterring individuals from freely choosing or changing their faith.

Christians, alongside other minorities, find these laws an impediment to their religious autonomy, pushing the need for sensitive and secular governance that Lok Sabha representatives can influence. Historically, the BJP has provided minimal representation to Christians. In the previous Lok Sabha, John Barla from Bengal was the only Christian member of Parliament from the BJP, and he served as a deputy minister for minority affairs. During the entire five-year term of the last Parliament, under Modi's leadership, there were no Christian or Muslim cabinet ministers.

Modi and his party have been making concerted efforts to establish a presence in Kerala, a state traditionally oscillating between the Marxist alliance and the Congress-led governments. Currently, the Marxists hold the state's governance, although Congress controls 19 out of 20 parliamentary seats.

The BJP has attempted to deepen divisions between Central Kerala's Christian communities and the Muslims in the neighboring northern regions. In an attempt to expand its reach in Kerala, the BJP has succeeded in winning over Anil Antony, son of the renowned Congress leader and former defense minister A.K. Antony.

Christians running for office

This development represents a significant setback for the Congress, a party deeply entrenched in the state and representative of diverse groups ranging from fishermen and boatmen to affluent stakeholders in the spices, tea, coffee and rubber industries and business segments held by Christians. With a scant industrial presence, Kerala lacks a substantial corporate and industrial elite.

Despite these efforts, the BJP has not nominated additional Christian candidates in Kerala. The Congress-led United Democratic Front has five Christians in the race: Dean Kuriakose, Hibi Eaden, Benny Behanan, Anto Antony and Francis George.

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has nominated P.C. George. In Goa, Viriato Fernandes is contesting for a seat, and while the number of Christians running for the DMK in Tamil Nadu remains unclear, the state typically sends at least two Christians to Parliament.

Meanwhile, the count of Christian candidates in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is complicated by several Dalit candidates possibly registering as Hindus. The Congress has nominated at least one known and one Dalit candidate from Telangana.

The northeast, often perceived as predominantly Christian, presents a stark contrast. Arunachal Pradesh features a Christian candidate from the Congress, and Assam has just one, Roslina Tirky. Jones Ingty Kathar, a former bureaucrat, has support from the Autonomous Hills People Party. Except for Orissa and Jharkhand, which may collectively have about four Christian candidates representing Congress and its allies in Jharkhand and the Biju Janata Dal in Orissa, other states are unlikely to see Christian candidates from major parties.

Additionally, several individuals are running as independents or with support from lesser-known parties, such as Anson Thomas of the PPI Secular, a former official and activist, and Samuel Soni, a candidate in Punjab supported by a group of independent churches.

As India moves closer to another election, the Christian community, like many other minorities, stands at a crossroads. The choice of representatives could very well determine the course of their rights, security and place within the Indian tapestry for the next several years.

Rishabh Jain is an independent journalist based in Delhi. Follow him at @ThisIsRjain.