Indian voters ought to think hard about giving Narendra Modi another popular mandate<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The world\u2019s largest elections<\/a> begin this weekend in India, amid claims that the race to lead the country has already been won<\/a>. If Narendra Modi were to secure a third term with a big parliamentary majority, his achievement would match that of the country\u2019s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru<\/a>. Whatever the outcome, the loser has been Indian democracy. Unlike Mr Nehru, who anonymously criticised his own leadership<\/a>, Mr Modi has little time for his opponents.<\/p>\n Democracies run best when there is a contest of ideas and equal treatment of citizens in everyday administration. These are in short supply in Modi\u2019s India. The main opposition Congress party found its bank accounts frozen<\/a>. It can\u2019t be a coincidence that all the leading Indian politicians<\/a> arrested by enforcement and tax authorities belong to the opposition and none to the ruling party. Weaponising India\u2019s prosecutorial apparatus seems unnecessary, as Mr Modi can massively outspend his rivals. Since 2018, Mr Modi\u2019s Bharatiya Janata party has received about \u00a31.25bn<\/a> from wealthy donors, more than all other political parties combined.<\/p>\n