The Slide into Authoritarianism: Concerns of Narendra Modi’s Absolute Majority Loss in Upcoming Elections

In the upcoming elections, there are concerns that Narendra Modi’s party may not secure an absolute majority. Yogendra Yadav, a psychologist and founder of an opposition political group, believes that this would be a significant setback for Modi personally. Modi, who has been in power for 10 years, has built his leadership on Hindu nationalism, which has been met with criticism from opponents who see it as a slide into authoritarianism.

During his rise to power, Modi has dominated Indian politics, with few willing to challenge him within his own party or its ideological parent group. In the recent campaign, Modi’s presence was everywhere, promising to change the lives of India’s nearly 1 billion voters. However, some critics believe that Modi has become bigger than the party itself, overshadowing the democratic process where parties are expected to change candidates.

Surendra Kumar Dwivedi, former head of the political science department at Lucknow University, shares these concerns about Modi’s dominance over the party in a democratic system where the party should be the focus. There are worries that if Modi’s party fails to secure an absolute majority, it could signal a shift in Indian politics away from the current leadership style towards a more diverse and inclusive approach.