Make in India? What Modi Has Really Made Is INDIA
Dumb acronyms aside, a new opposition coalition angered by government overreach presents a real threat to the popular prime minister.
Congress at least knew how to leave space for opposition.
Photographer: Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP/Getty Images
If a man may be known by the enemies he makes, we have learned a little bit more about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week. Almost all of the most vocal opposition parties in India joined hands to announce a new alliance, optimistically called the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). If nothing goes wrong — although much could — INDIA will be on the ticket in most battleground states for next year’s general elections.
Consequently, India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is objectively much more vulnerable than it was last week. While Modi himself maintains one of the highest approval ratings of any world leader, his party is not as popular as he is — and votes are cast for parties, not prime ministers, in Indian elections.