The aftermath of Modi’s Hindu nationalism: coping with the “moral defeat”

In January, more than 100,000 Hindus traveled from all over India to Ayodhya where Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a new Hindu temple built on the ruins of a 16th-century mosque. The mosque was destroyed by Hindu radicals who claimed it was built by Muslim invaders in the birthplace of Lord Ram, one of their main deities. With a grand inauguration, Modi fulfilled one of his oldest electoral promises, presenting it as the Hindu Vatican and appealing to nationalist sentiments to gain more votes.

Despite the grand inauguration, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Modi, was surprisingly not the most voted party in the Faizabad district, which includes Ayodhya. This was unexpected as the BJP had invested billions to build infrastructure around the temple. The loss in Faizabad and in several regions of Uttar Pradesh, Modi’s stronghold, signaled a weakening of his leadership.

Although Modi won the elections overall, the BJP fell short of a parliamentary majority with only 240 seats, losing 62 compared to the 2019 elections. Modi will serve a third term as Prime Minister, forming a coalition government with other small right-wing parties. While his victory was reported in the newspapers, it was noted that the results were much closer than expected and Modi would have to adopt a more collaborative approach with his partners.

As Modi’s party headquarters celebrated his victory, the Congress Party, the main opposition, also claimed a better result than anticipated with 240 seats. The opposition has not yet conceded to Modi’s victory, highlighting a polarization in Indian politics. These elections have also brought new and controversial figures to Parliament, such as Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut and Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, the son of one of Indira Gandhi’s assassins.

The election results reflect a shift in Indian politics, with Modi’s leadership facing challenges and the opposition gaining ground. Despite his victory, Modi’s grip on power seems to be loosening, with the need for coalition governance and a more inclusive approach becoming evident.