Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is seeking to ‘soften’ his image after a crushing electoral defeat in New Delhi and grumblings in his party about his top-down leadership style.
Abruptly ending a string of national and regional election victories, Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was thrashed in the capital this month, a defeat many blamed on a perception that Modi was fanning the flames Hindu extremism.
“The Delhi election results ended the party’s honeymoon period with a jolt,” a senior BJP leader in New Delhi said, asking not be identified as he is not authorized to speak to the media.
“If we don’t start the damage control and make immediate corrections, defeat in other state elections is imminent.”
In the space of a week, Modi, a Hindu nationalist who rarely attends events organized by religious minorities, delivered a long-awaited speech about inter-faith tolerance to a Christian congregation.
Leaders of the hardline Hindu group Vishwa Hindu Parishad associated with the BJP have cautioned members across India against making comments that “hurt Narendra Modi’s image”.
A saint-like bust of the prime minister was removed from a temple in his home state of Gujarat after he tweeted his disapproval, and a designer suit he wore to meet U.S. President Barack Obama is being auctioned for charity.
The navy blue outfit, embroidered with gold pinstripes bearing Modi’s name, was mocked by Modi’s opponents, and even the party faithful said it undermined the voter-friendly narrative of Modi’s humble beginnings as the son of a tea seller.
“Modi’s image as a son of a tea vendor was his trump card,” said a senior election campaign adviser to the party. “Voters admired his simplicity, but now he is viewed as a flashy leader.”
Urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu said the Delhi elections were a setback for the BJP and cause for introspection, but denied Modi had lost touch with voters.
“There is no change in their regard and admiration for Narendra Modi,” Naidu told Headlines Today television this week. “People love him.”
The day after Naidu spoke, senior BJP official Prodyut Bora quit. In his resignation letter to the party’s powerful president, Amit Shah, the rebel complained about the centralization of power in the prime minister’s office.
