India commences voting in the largest election in the world

Millions of Indians began voting in a six-week election that is being viewed as a referendum on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist politics. The election, which will elect 543 members to the lower house of Parliament, is seen as one of the most consequential in India’s history.

Modi, who is seeking a rare third term as the country’s leader, has been championing an assertive brand of Hindu nationalist politics. His Bharatiya Janata Party is up against a broad opposition alliance led by the Indian National Congress and powerful regional parties.

While most polls predict a win for Modi, the opposition alliance, called INDIA, has not yet put forward a candidate. The election comes after a decade of Modi’s leadership, during which the BJP has consolidated power through a combination of Hindu-first politics and economic development.

Critics of Modi warn that he has become increasingly illiberal and could use a third term to undermine India’s democracy. They argue that his Hindu nationalist politics has bred intolerance and threatens the country’s secular roots.

Despite these criticisms, Modi remains popular among India’s 1.4 billion people. His BJP has dominated in certain parts of the country and is now seeking to gain a two-thirds majority. The party hopes for a landslide win powered by popular welfare programs and controversial moves like the construction of a temple to Ram and the scrapping of Kashmir’s autonomy.

The election will test the limits of Modi’s political dominance and could have far-reaching implications for India’s future.