Modi heads for landslide

INDIA: Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi headed for a landslide election win in the Indian state of Gujarat on Thursday, firming up his chances of running for Prime Minister in 2014.

Modi, a charismatic but divisive figure, was set to be re-elected as Chief Minister of Gujarat, sealing his status as the most high-profile leader of the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of national polls in early 2014.

Supporters of the BJP, which is the main opposition party in the national parliament, chanted and waved flags in delight as official counting put the party ahead in 118 seats with the rival Congress party leading in just 59.

While the victory was expected, Modi's popularity on the national stage remains uncertain with his reputation tarnished by allegations over links to deadly Hindu-Muslim riots in his home state in 2002. Gujarat, which has a population of 60 million people, is one of India's fastest-growing and most pro-business states.

“Modi has proven that he has the ability to showcase himself as a Prime Ministerial candidate,” Sebastian Morris, an economics professor at the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad, Gujarat's main city, told AFP.

AFP