FOCUS ON RELIGIOUS IDENTITY POLITICS BACKFIRED Analysts said the BJP’s focus on religious identity politics backfired in the end. Mr Jagdeep Chhokar, founder of non-profit Association for Democratic Reforms, told CNA: “Unemployment, poverty, state of the economy, deprivation – these were the main issues I think which got the electorate to vote in favour of … Read more
Modi’s new term as prime minister, therefore, is likely to be fraught with challenges on building consensus on contentious political and policy issues in the face of different interests of regional parties and a stronger opposition, analysts say. Some analysts worry that the fiscal balance in the world’s fastest-growing economy could also come under pressure … Read more
LOCALISED ELECTIONS In 2014 and 2019, the staggering popularity of Mr Modi often ensured the victory of candidates, with voters indicating that they were supporting the prime minister rather than the local candidate. This time around, election choices were much more localised. Rather than religion, caste dynamics have fundamentally influenced the results, especially so in … Read more
“STRONG OPPOSITION” Rival China congratulated Modi earlier on Wednesday and said it was “ready to work” with its neighbour, while Japan also applauded the win. Modi, 73, insisted on Tuesday night that the election results were a victory that ensured he would continue his agenda. “Our third term will be one of big decisions and … Read more
The BJP has dismissed opposition speculation that Modi, 73, might hang up his boots once he reaches 75, like some other party leaders have done in recent years. Modi has said he wants to lay the groundwork for India to become a fully developed nation by 2047, the 100th year of independence from British colonial … Read more
NEW DELHI: India’s election commission said on Monday (Jun 3) that a staggering 642 million people voted in just-concluded six-week-long polls, a day ahead of the results which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is widely expected to win. Nearly all observers believe Modi’s appeals to Hindu nationalist sentiment will give him a third term in power, … Read more
ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES A significant innovation in Indian elections is the deployment of electronic voting machines (EVMs). While EVMs underwent multiple testing phases, the 2004 general election and subsequent elections were completely organised using such machines. Before their introduction, voting was often marred by incidents wherein miscreants used to capture a few polling stations to … Read more
Modi was scheduled to cast his ballot in the city of Ahmedabad in his home state of Gujarat, during the third round of voting, which India conducts in phases. He remains widely popular a decade since coming to power, in large part due to his government positioning of the nation’s majority faith at the centre … Read more
PUBLIC PRAISE COSTS NOTHING FOR THE WEST For many Indians, none of that matters. The crucial thing is that the world seems to be backing up Modi’s claims. Members of India’s vast Western diaspora, who are among Modi’s strongest supporters, loudly echo the BJP’s narrative. The prime minister himself told a diaspora crowd once that while … Read more
