In India’s western state of Gujarat, voters began choosing a new state government on Thursday in an election where Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party is expected to cruise to an easy victory.
Political analysts say that while there is disenchantment with the BJP in a state that it has ruled for 27 years, the party is on course to win an unprecedented seventh term, mainly due to the popularity of the Indian leader.
Gujarat is Modi’s home state, which he headed for about 13 years as chief minister before he became the country’s prime minister in 2014, and the BJP is depending on his charisma to pull in votes. In recent weeks, Modi has addressed dozens of rallies in the state.
Modi’s Home State Votes in Local Polls Projected as Easy Win for BJP (voanews.com)
