The recent elections in India have highlighted the limits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP’s hate-driven political platform. Despite Modi’s re-election, his party’s surprisingly poor performance across the board indicates a significant shift in voter sentiment. The BJP, which has heavily relied on Hindu nationalism and anti-Muslim rhetoric to garner support, failed to secure a majority. The coalition they formed is fragile and could collapse at any moment, forcing Modi to grovel for continued support.
The economic realities facing India have played a crucial role in this shift. Modi’s tenure has been marked by rising unemployment and economic hardships. While he has implemented measures like cash transfers to keep people out of desperation, his government has not succeeded in creating sustainable jobs. Instead, the BJP has focused on turning India into an ethno-Hindu state, a strategy that is losing its appeal amid worsening economic conditions.
The opposition, running on a platform of economic justice, has effectively challenged Modi’s divisive politics. Their message of addressing economic disparities and empowering the workforce resonated with voters, who are increasingly disillusioned with the BJP’s failure to deliver on material needs. The reliance on cultural and religious divisions to distract from economic issues is no longer sufficient to maintain broad support.
Modi’s control over the press and information flow also faced a significant setback. Despite a media landscape largely supportive of his regime, the election results revealed a disconnect between media narratives and voter realities. The election results serve as a critical reminder that authoritarian tactics and hate-driven politics have their limits. Modi’s previous electoral successes, fueled by Hindu nationalism, cannot mask the underlying economic mismanagement that now threatens his political future. As India grapples with economic challenges, the demand for jobs and economic justice is likely to shape its political landscape, signaling a potential shift away from divisive and exclusionary politics.
