New Delhi: Is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) the world’s most ruthlessly efficient political party? That’s the question that Financial Times tries to answer as it delves into the party’s campaign for the Lok Sabha polls.
Calling Modi’s image in Indian politics “almost cult-like”, authors, Benjamin Parkin, John Reed, and Jyotsna Singh highlight how his Hindu nationalism is reflected in government policies such as revoking Kashmir’s autonomy and building a Ram temple.
They also acknowledge the BJP’s grassroots presence, saying that the party’s next goal is to cultivate a new set of supporters — young voters.
At the same time, they also highlight how rising anti-Muslim rhetoric, creeping authoritarianism, and the crackdown on political rivals and civil societies have set the alarm bells ringing.
In this explainer, The New York Times analysis why India’s election process takes six weeks. With 969 million eligible voters, India boasts the world’s largest electorate. The article highlights how India’s vast geography, diverse population distribution, and election regulations are some of the factors that contribute to its prolonged election process.
In this data analysis for CNN, authors Diksha Madhok and Rachel Wilson ask the big question — can India become an economic superpower?
In the piece. The authors say that while India’s economy has expanded significantly under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, touching $3.7 trillion in 2023, challenges such as India’s low per capita GDP and high unemployment rates persist.
According to the article, while the country has been making efforts to invest in infrastructure, digital public infrastructure, and manufacturing to boost economic growth and attract foreign investment, addressing the job market’s inadequacies remains a critical challenge for Modi’s administration.
In its latest report, Bloomberg highlights how, ahead of India’s general election, political parties are leveraging emotive ads, memes, and music videos to target the tech-savvy youth comprising millions of first-time voters and smartphone users.
According to the article, while Modi’s BJP has been leading the social media game, having invested heavily since 2014, the Opposition too counters this with ads highlighting economic concerns and accountability demands.
From Modi’s interaction with online gamers to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s interviews with influencers, social media has enabled unconventional ways of campaigning, underscoring India’s evolving landscape of political communication, the article says.
On FinancialTimes Live, experts discussed what the business world expects from India’s next government. As Modi anticipates a third term, discussions regarding his government’s agenda for the first 100 days have already begun. Chris Kay, the Mumbai correspondent of Financial Times, says: “BJP’s manifesto released over the weekend talks about India being a global manufacturing hub, upgrading infrastructure. There are little details on contentious issues like land acquisition, labour laws… Modi has been unpredictable in the ten years in power. We have seen demonetization, his attempts to reform farming laws. So there could be many wild cards ahead”.
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From Trump’s trial to Dubai flooding — what’s going on in the world
As former US President Donald Trump faces a criminal trial in the hush money case, the new AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll finds only about one-third of US adults believe him guilty. Read AP’s latest report to know more.
Submerged roads, long queues to the airport, and absolute chaos. That’s what the desert city Dubai is witnessing in the aftermath of torrential rains. The Guardian report brings you the latest.
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