India announces elections in April: 11 things to know
Analysts believe the summer elections will largely be a referendum on Mr Modi.
In 2014, the party suffered its worst defeat ever in a general election. It won a mere 44 seats - down from 206 seats - and picked up less than 20% of the popular vote. Farm incomes have stagnated because of a crop glut and declining commodity prices, leaving farmers saddled with debt and angry. Yet, inflation is in check. Increased government spending in infrastructure and public works has kept the economy moving. Growth is expected to be 6.8% this fiscal year.
Rahul Gandhi has promised to guarantee a minimum income for the poor if his party wins the elections. Others will be showering the voters with freebies ranging from TV sets to laptops. There is no clear evidence to show that sops win votes.Mr Modi's muscular nationalism and his party's majoritarian politics have left India a deeply divided and anxious nation, say critics.
What is clear now is that Mr Modi will make national security a key plank of his campaign. Whether this will work is not clear. The opposition has to still come up with a persuasive counter-narrative. Will the pull of nationalism override other issues and fetch swing votes for Mr Modi?The northern state of Uttar Pradesh has an outsize influence on Indian politics.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Special needs teacher, 38, 'had sex with boy more than 100 times from age of 11'A SPECIAL needs teacher has been accused of having sex with a boy more than 100 times from the age of 11. Heather Winfield, 38, allegedly abused the lad at hotels and campsites after showering him …
Read more »
Satisfaction with NHS 'hits 11-year low'The public is concerned about lack of staffing and waiting times, according to a long-running survey.
Read more »
Scotland 11-18 Wales: Six Nations title in sight for Gatland's menWales are now just one game away from the Six Nations title and a Grand Slam after surviving a second-half fright against Scotland at Murrayfield.
Read more »
Shoreham airshow crash pilot cleared over deaths of 11 peopleOld Bailey jury finds Andrew Hill, 54, not guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence
Read more »
China prosecutes 11 people in £90 million totoaba fish bustProsecutors in Guangdong province said the 11 people are suspected of smuggling nearly 20,000 swim bladders worth more than 800 million yuan (£90 million) from Mexico.
Read more »
Teacher 'raped boy, 11, hundreds of times and took him on vacation to abuse him'Heather Winfield, 38, is accused of sexually assaulting her student for three years while she showered him with gifts and included him on family trips to seduce him.
Read more »
12 best smartphones: The latest launchesFrom Samsung's newest offering to strong and affordable contenders from OnePlus, we pick out the best of the new handsets
Read more »
Is the US-Mexico border already at breaking point?February was the busiest month since April 2008 – but is the government equipped to respond to an influx of families?
Read more »
Max Johnson, 11, reveals he says 'good morning' to his heart so it 'settles in'EXCLUSIVE: Max, who had a heart transplant, plans to enter the World Transplant Games in August
Read more »
Anti-Muslim poster linking Ilhan Omar to 9/11 sparks outrage in West VirginiaSign at event sponsored by Republican Party bore an image of the burning World Trade Center juxtaposed with a picture of the Muslim congresswoman
Read more »