India's Strong Man: Narendra Modi Remains An Authoritarian At Heart

India has long prided itself on being the worlds largest democracy, and one built on a population of remarkable religious, ethnic, cultural and racial diversity. More recently, the country has touted its growing economy as a sign that India is poised to take its place as a major emerging power. But with the election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, the specter of Hindu nationalism has emerged as a potent force that could threaten the countrys democracy. Pratap Bhanu Mehta looks at the evolving effects of Modis leadership.

- Pratap Bhanu Mehta

Narendra Modi became prime minister of India in 2014, with a consummate mastery of political communication and a superficial nod to democratic language. two of his favorite phrases translated into something like this: “summon the Power of 1.25 billion Indians,” and “everyone together, everyone’s Progress.” like a napoleonic figure, he represented the people. It was a claim made more plausible by the strong sense of identification he produced in his supporters: a self-made, selfless leader of humble social and economic origin, with boundless commitment, devoted to nothing but the good of the nation and taking on old corrupt dynasties. In 2014, this narrative was appealing. India was facing an impending economic slowdown, rampant plutocracy and a sense of political paralysis. the then ruling Congress Party had no will to reform itself. Modi positioned himself as the ultimate savior, pitting his personal virtue against corruption, his energy against an enervated old regime and the promise of better days against the gloom of an economic slowdown. the contradiction between this inclusive rhetoric, and his deep political allegiances to Hindu nationalism, was never far from the surface. But in the anxiety-riddenn atmosphere of 2014, this tension became a source of strength for him rather than a liability. He deftly combined hope for the future, while mobilizing resentments over the past; he could spin dreams of a new economic prosperity, while emboldening his Hindutva base.

He rewrote the rules of Indian politics. For the first time in three decades, India’s elections became more presidential in character, centered on his persona. His Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won a majority in the lower house of parliament, and its performance in subsequent state elections has made it the dominant national force. such a mandate made Modi one of the most powerful prime ministers in recent memory.