India’s Modi faces his biggest test yet as ‘alive and kicking’ opposition parties unite pre-elections

New opposition alliance INDIA is working to stitch together a seat-sharing pact to challenge Modi’s ruling BJP in next year’s general elections

Analysts say it could pose ‘a bit of a challenge’ – as the Indian PM used his Independence Day speech to appeal to voters ‘as a statesman and family elder’

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during the nation’s Independence Day ceremony at New Delhi’s Red Fort on Tuesday. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 9:30am, 16 Aug 2023

Less than a week after defeating a no-confidence vote, Narendra Modi outlined his vision of making India a developed nation and urged citizens to remove corruption, dynasty politics and appeasement, in his last Independence Day speech as prime minister before next year’s elections.

“We can’t miss this opportunity. India’s rise and development is resulting in renewed global confidence in the country,” he said on Tuesday from New Delhi’s historic Red Fort.

“In 2014, people decided to take the country forward in its progress, and brought a stable and strong government,” Modi said, recounting achievements such as introducing a national digital framework, shoring up manufacturing and mass Covid-19 vaccinations.

A woman carries water through a slum in Hyderabad. Modi said his government will launch a programme to train women to operate and repair drones for agricultural purposes. Photo: AP

Modi didn’t reveal any major sweeteners for voters, though he did say his government would launch a programme to train women to operate and repair drones for agricultural purposes.

Instead, the main thrust of his speech was to tap into his personal popularity and appeal to citizens as family. But his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may have to rely on more than feel-good sentiment as it seeks a third term, analysts say.

Last month, the leaders of 26 regional political parties came together to form the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) and challenge Modi’s BJP in the national polls, set for April, that could prove to be his sternest test yet.

They plan to stitch together a seat-sharing pact later this month in Mumbai to minimise cross-voting for opposition candidates – an issue that has undermined their chances against the BJP in the past.