11 years of Modi: Why BJP is still calling the shots

The Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has just marked 11 years in power - three back-to-back terms that have put the BJP firmly in the political driver’s seat. A year ago, it actually did not look that way. The BJP fell well short of the majority mark of 272, settling at 240 and needed the help of allies like the Janata Dal (United) (JDU) and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to stay afloat. Many speculated that this was the beginning of the end of the Modi era, that Modi would have to compromise on his agenda to accommodate his coalition partners.

Fast forward to one year later. The BJP has never appeared stronger. The Lok Sabha elections may have been a setback, but in the subsequent months, the party has bounced back, winning the all important state elections in Maharashtra, Haryana and Delhi. It has managed to keep the JDU and the TDP happy and ensure that the two allies support it on crucial legislation. Neither Nitish Kumar nor Chandrababu Naidu have been keen on rocking the boat.