Int’l media sees Modi’s election as blow to his image & Hindutva agenda
Islamabad: The 2024 Indian election results have been widely covered in the international media, with many viewing the outcome as a significant blow to Modi’s image and his Hindutva agenda. The results also mark a resurgence for the opposition.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the international media’s coverage highlighted several key aspects of the outcome. Modi’s party lost its majority, and his Hindu nationalist agenda was rejected by voters. While acknowledging Modi’s achievement as potentially the second Prime Minister after Nehru to secure a third consecutive term, many foreign news outlets also spotlighted the unexpected gains made by the opposition INDIA bloc.
The New York Times noted the 2024 results shattered Modi’s “aura of invincibility”, forcing him to rely on coalition partners that don’t share his Hindu nationalist agenda. In another piece, “Indian Voters Have Finally Woken Up” the paper wrote: “Modi is a diminished figure after a disappointing election showing that could imperil his visions for an intolerant Hindu state”. It added that Modi and BJP “fell back to earth”.
The Washington Post criticized Modi’s emphasis on Hindu nationalism and the construction of the Ram temple did not sway voters.
The Wall Street Journal called the results, “a rebuke” to PM Modi, highlighting economic rifts and challenging his perceived invincibility.
The Guardian reported Modi lost his aura of invincibility. The paper added that with dependency on coalition partners, it is likely to make it far harder for Modi to move forward with many of his more radical Hindu-first policies, particularly involving citizenship registration and laws accused of directly discriminating against Muslims.
The BBC described the results as a “setback” for Modi, hailing the outcome as a significant resurgence for the opposition INDIA alliance and Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi.
The Associated Press described Modi as a “popular but polarising leader”, who resorted to anti-Muslim rhetoric, calling them “infiltrators” and making references to a Hindu nationalist claim that Muslims were overtaking the Hindu population by having more children.
CNN noted that voters in the world’s largest democracy partially rejected Modi’s populist vision for a Hindu-first nation.
Bloomberg emphasized that investors and governments mistakenly believed that one individual could single-handedly navigate India’s complexities.
Pakistan’s, The Dawn, called the results ‘Pyrrhic victory” for Modi.
