Analysis of Modi's 2019 Election Victory and Religious Dynamics in India

Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party secured 303 seats in India's 542-seat Lok Sabha during the 2019 general election, increasing from 282 in 2014. The Congress Party, led by Rahul Gandhi, won only 52 seats, failing to achieve official opposition status. Modi's victory occurred despite public discontent over demonetization and the Goods & Services Tax, which caused widespread hardship. Lynchings in the name of cow protection and Modi's muted response alienated some moderate Hindus. However, aggressive campaigning by Christian and Muslim minorities against Modi, including sermons and social media videos, galvanized Hindu voters. In Tamil Nadu, the BJP lost all 39 contested seats due to caste divisions, with anti-Brahman sentiments influenced by E.V. Ramasamy's ideologies. The article, translated from Tamil by Vidhya Subash, appeared in the Summer 2019 issue of ArtReview Asia, arguing that religious harmony has deteriorated.