Modi's Road To Victory: From Gujarat To Ayodhya

VARANASI, INDIA - MAY 13: India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves towards his supporters, some of whom throw rose petals from atop a temple, during his roadshow in Varanasi, the temple town, on May 13, 2024. Under Narendra Modi's leadership, Hindu nationalist ideology has become increasingly mainstream, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological parent organization, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), working to advance a Hindu-centric vision for India. As chief minister of Gujarat, Modi capitalized on religious tensions and cultivated a pro-business, development-focused image that later propelled him to the national stage as a popular prime minister. Varanasi's strategic location, cultural significance, and the BJP's existing presence in the constituency make it an important political choice for Modi, helping him strengthen his Hindu nationalist credentials and boost the party's electoral prospects in crucial states. The two locations illustrate Modi's route to three terms in power in India, the world's largest democracy which has seen voting take place in multiple phases in an election that will yield results in early June. (Photo by Anindito Mukherjee/Getty Images)