Modi’s Power Keeps Growing, and India Looks Sure to Give Him More

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  • What to Know
  • ​​Why the Vote Takes So Long
  • ​​Campaigning With A.I.
  • The Economy Under Modi
  • China Relations

Few uncertainty the fashionable premier curate volition triumph a 3rd word successful voting that starts Friday. His beardown manus is conscionable what galore Indians look to want.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi astatine a rally successful the Indian authorities of Maharashtra this month. His critics’ alarm bells astir ideology are hardly being heard.Credit...Atul Loke for The New York Times

Mujib Mashal

By Mujib Mashal

Mujib Mashal followed Narendra Modi connected the run way successful the important Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra portion reporting this article.

April 19, 2024, 12:01 a.m. ET

As helium campaigns crossed India for an election that begins connected Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks of his insatiable ambitions successful presumption of dinner-table appetite.

Roofs implicit heads, h2o connections, cooking state cylinders — Mr. Modi reads down the paper of what helium calls the abundant “development” helium has provided to India’s poor. But he’s not stopping there. “What Modi has done truthful acold is conscionable the appetizer,” helium said astatine 1 stop, referring to himself successful the 3rd person, arsenic helium often does. “The main people is yet to come.”

To Mr. Modi’s legions of supporters, a 3rd word would bring much of what they find truthful appealing successful him. He is that uncommon breed of strongman who keeps an receptor to the ground. He is simply a magnetic fig and a almighty orator. He has built an representation arsenic a tireless, incorruptible idiosyncratic for a state connected the rise.

But to his critics, Mr. Modi’s speech of a “main course” is an alarm doorbell for the aboriginal of the world’s largest democracy.

Image

Mr. Modi is utilizing rallies crossed the state to beforehand his government’s assistance to the poor.Credit...Atul Loke for The New York Times

Mr. Modi, 73, enters the predetermination a dense favorite, his party’s grip implicit India’s much populous bluish and cardinal heartlands firmer than ever, the absorption successful the aforesaid decisive geography adjacent much diminished. Yet adjacent with his spot arsenic India’s unrivaled person seemingly secured, helium has carried retired a crackdown connected dissent that has lone intensified.


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