India is in the midst of its 18th general election. Almost every opinion survey indicates that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will return for a third straight term in power. The BJP is expected to ride to victory on Modi’s popularity. Despite growing unemployment and massive corruption under his rule, Modi’s approval ratings … Read more
One week is a long time in Indian politics. And over just a week in March, the image of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) changed significantly. On March 14, two former bureaucrats were appointed election commissioners despite protests by the opposition, the discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) rules had just been notified and fuel prices … Read more
Join Beyond the Indus host Tushar Shetty in the lead up to the Great Indian Election as we explore Narendra Modi’s BJP, and what made it the dominant force in Indian politics. We sit down with Akhilesh Pillalamari and Ashutosh Varshney, who help break down the politics of Hindutva and its impact on Indian society, … Read more
Most parties that are part of the opposition Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) are skipping the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22. This appears to be a bold move considering the perceived sensitivity of the issue to India’s Hindus, who comprise over 80 percent of India’s population. Prime Minister Narendra … Read more
The already troubled India-Maldives relationship is under fresh strain following a spat over disparaging remarks made by Maldivian ministers about India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media. Although the Maldivian government under newly elected President Mohamed Muizzu was swift in distancing itself from the offensive remarks — its Foreign Ministry issued a statement … Read more
With state and national elections ahead, the party moves away from its time-tested appeal to Hindu nationalism.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have felt a bit disappointed when he found himself sharing the frame with Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles while handing the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 trophy to the winning captain. Modi is known for his desire to command undivided attention during high-profile situations. So it is likely … Read more
Advertisement After the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine commenced in late February 2022, hardly any Indian politicians called for their country to denounce Moscow’s actions, let alone completely change the course of Indian foreign policy. One of the few exceptions was Shashi Tharoor, one of the most important politicians in the nation’s largest opposition party, … Read more
Advertisement In the realm of global politics, leaders often emerge from diverse backgrounds, each with their own unique narrative. However, there are instances when leaders from seemingly different corners of the world share striking similarities in their trajectories and policy objectives. Such is the case with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and President Joko … Read more
Advertisement Within foreign policy, domestic variables play a vital role. We have seen this in Bangladesh-India relations before. A mural in the new Indian Parliament building that was termed by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) minister as depicting “Akhand Bharat” (Undivided India) caused Bangladesh’s government to ask for an explanation from India’s Ministry of External … Read more