The 2024 elections results triggered a new wave of commentary about whether Narendra Modi’s political dominance had weakened.
Critics pointed to the reduced BJP tally, concerns about employment and economic inequality, and debates over institutions and social polarisation. Supporters, however, viewed the third consecutive victory as evidence of continuing national political relevance.
The 2024 result also produced intense debate over the political meaning of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The BJP’s defeat in Faizabad, the parliamentary constituency containing Ayodhya, became an important talking point among commentators who argued that religious symbolism could not substitute for economic concerns such as jobs and household welfare.
The subsequent political developments complicated some of those early post-election assessments.
The BJP and its allies secured victories in several state elections.
By May 2026, the BJP had won 207 of 293 declared seats in West Bengal, while in Assam it won 82 of 126 seats. These results substantially altered the political landscape in two important states.
From BJP’s 2013 PM-face decision to a third term and major state victories, Modi’s political journey has repeatedly challenged predictions about his political future.
September 13, 2013, was a defining day in Narendra Modi’s political journey. BJP president Rajnath Singh named the Gujarat chief minister as the party’s prime ministerial face despite opposition from senior leaders, including L.K. Advani.
Modi responded by describing himself as a “lowly soldier” entrusted with a “big mission” and said, “God has given me a lot of strength.”
By then, Modi had already served as Gujarat chief minister and had won three successive Assembly elections. His governance record in Gujarat had become associated with what supporters called the “Gujarat model”, while critics questioned several aspects of his record and political style.
His elevation immediately generated contrasting narratives. Supporters saw it as the beginning of a march towards national power. Some Western commentary, meanwhile, continued to focus heavily on the 2002 Gujarat riots and allegations concerning Modi’s role as chief minister. Modi denied allegations that he had encouraged attacks on Muslims. The debate over his Gujarat record remained a major part of the political discourse surrounding his rise.
Between 2005 and 2013, Modi consistently featured prominently in surveys measuring the popularity of Indian politicians. Yet his international standing remained contested. The United States denied him a visa in 2005, while Britain’s diplomatic engagement with him evolved before its government ended its boycott in 2012.
The political landscape changed dramatically in 2014.
Modi led the BJP to a majority in the Lok Sabha and became prime minister. He subsequently won re-election in 2019 with the BJP increasing its tally to 303 seats.
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The 2024 election produced a different parliamentary arithmetic. The BJP won 240 Lok Sabha seats, down from 303 in 2019, and Modi returned as prime minister for a third consecutive term at the head of a coalition government.
The contrast with Rahul Gandhi’s political trajectory also remained a central feature of India’s opposition politics. In 2014, international commentary contrasted Gandhi’s political inheritance with Modi’s background and campaigning style.
In 2014 - 'The Guardian' had said rather acidly -- "Rahul Gandhi with his political pedigree, privileged upbringing and distaste for public speaking, is very different from Modi, who is the son of a tea seller and known as one of the country's best performers at the rallies which are a key part of campaigning."
Rahul Gandhi was called -- "a mediocre public speaker who shuns the media".
The Congress simultaneously faced the political consequences of corruption allegations associated with the UPA years and criticism over economic performance.
By 2026, therefore, the central question was no longer simply whether Modi’s political dominance would survive the 2024 setback. It was whether the BJP had successfully converted the 2024 parliamentary setback into a broader political recovery through state-level victories.
The answer ultimately rests with voters and future elections. But the record from 2013 to 2026 shows a political career marked by sharp reversals, intense criticism, electoral victories and setbacks, and repeated attempts by both supporters and opponents to define what the Modi era means for India.
M Chuba Ao, former BJP national vice president, said in an article ----
"The people, some hundreds of protesters and political parties are trying to manufacture unrest or anarchy in the country. This anarchy -as a plot has not happened for the first time. The BJP was nowhere in scene when anti-Mandal Commission protest had happened.
Students even indulged in self-immolation but V P Singh or his Home Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed did not resign. In PM Modi’s case; he always handles things taking every matter in perspective. When he says ‘India first’; he actually means people first."
Now, over to the people.
ends
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