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Opinion National Interest PoV 50-Word Edit

ThePrint On Camera Videos In Pictures

Society & Culture Around Town Book Excerpts Vigyapanti The Dating Story

More Judiciary Education YourTurn Work With Us Campus Voice

Modi wins because he understands where India’s heart lies. Right in politics, Left in economics

Despite some serious efforts at easing the environment for doing business, India remains an ‘approvals & permissions’ economy, with the bureaucracy dictating terms to entrepreneurs.

Where does India’s political heart lie? In light of the continued popularity and electoral success of the BJP, the answer is obvious — on the Right. But if politics includes the broader political economy, the conclusion may be different. That’s because India’s economic heart still beats on the Left. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s genius is in recognising this duality. This is what makes it very difficult for anyone to defeat him. He has both his right and left flanks covered.

Consider pure politics first. India’s centre is most certainly on the right. What are the main features? First, a strong nationalism. Indians are proud of their country and wear their passion for it on their sleeves. They are not particularly impressed by or tolerant of attempts to weaken or bleed India either from the outside (think Pakistan and its terror apparatus) or from within (think Naxalites). And they would overwhelmingly support strong and decisive moves against such enemies. Modi has followed that in his actions.

Second, an embrace of religiosity even in the public sphere. Indians have always been deeply religious people. Secularism of the Nehruvian........

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