Asia | Banyan

What Narendra Modi’s third term may look like

Reading the tea leaves of parliaments past

An illustration of a teacup containing two smoking nuclear chimneys, a space rocket, a bag of money with a rupee sign with a teabg label that reads "BJP" hanging down the side of the cup.
Illustration: Lan Truong

“IS MODI STILL THE PM?” read a text received by Banyan one recent afternoon. “I’m getting Modi withdrawal,” admitted the sender. It is usually difficult to notice the absence of something. But not Narendra Modi, who has dominated India’s newspapers, screens and imagination for the past decade. His Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has built an impressive personality cult around its leader, ensuring Indians never forget their prime minister.

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This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Tea leaves of parliaments past”

From the November 9th 2024 edition

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