The Stream

#IndianElections: Does India want five more years of Modi?

The Stream discusses Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s impact on India and other stories related to the #IndianElections.

How has Modi changed India?
In 2014, Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party swept into power as India’s first single-party parliamentary majority in 30 years. Despite unfulfilled campaign promises, a renewed fervor for Indian nationalism and security issues is likely to help him at the polls. As about 900 million voters decide on whom to cast their ballots for, we ask whether India wants five more years of Modi and the BJP.

Economic woes
One of Narendra Modi’s most touted campaign pledges was to create 10 million jobs annually. Instead, his government has been accused of creating India’s worst unemployment crisis in 45 years. And in India’s rural regions, a continued agrarian crisis has farmers protesting for increased subsidies and debt relief. How will economic concerns influence Indian voters at the polls? 

Social media misinformation
In India – the world’s second largest Internet user market – there are fears that political misinformation via social media could impact the election. Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter are some of the platforms that have taken steps to combat fake accounts and deceptive messages ahead of voting. But even these companies say that the spread of misinformation is impossible to fully contain. What else is being done to address the issue?

On this episode of The Stream, we speak with:
Sadanand Dhume @dhume
Resident fellow, American Enterprise Institute
aei.org

Neha Dixit @nehadixit123
Independent journalist 
neha-dixit.blogspot

Rohan Venkat @RohanV
Associate editor, Scroll Media
scroll.in
 

Read more:
Hindu nationalist wave may lift Modi to victory – WSJ
‘What use is a degree if I sell eggs?’: The job crisis under Modi – AJE
Despite being exposed,fake news thrives on social media ahead of India polls – Reuters