A win by Modi’s Hindu-first platform could threaten India’s status as a secular, democratic nation

DATE OF ELECTION

Expected in April or May

TYPE OF ELECTION

Parliamentary

WHO’S RUNNING

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is widely expected to win a record third successive term as his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party faces off against a weak opposition. In a bid to challenge the BJP’s dominance, the main opposition Congress party forged an alliance with more than two dozen regional parties. The alliance is called INDIA, which stands for the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance.

WHY IT MATTERS TO THE WORLD

The polls are likely to be seen as a test for India’s democratic and secular traditions, which critics say have seen a slow erosion under Modi’s 10-year rule. The polls in the world’s most populous democracy would also test the limits of a populist leader who has risen to power by mixing religion with politics on a Hindu-first platform. The elections come as India’s clout on the global stage has risen under Modi. It’s seen as a counterweight to Chinese aggression in the region by Western nations even as it maintains its historic ties with Russia. And its large economy, one of the fastest growing in the world, has only boosted its rise as an emerging global power.

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