Who is Narendra Modi? The enigmatic Indian leader’s rise to power

Nearly one billion Indian citizens are eligible to vote in a lengthy general election that began on April 19th and runs until June.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi looks set to retain power, in part thanks to the economic transformation that has lifted millions of Indians out of poverty on his watch. But Modi himself is an enigma.

For her podcast series Looking for Modi Australian journalist Avani Dias set out to profile one of the world’s most powerful people.

She tells In the News about the humble origins that endeared Modi to voters. But his backstory has some holes in it, like his formative experiences with a far-right Hindu nationalist organisation, the marriage he walked away from and tried to keep secret, and his alleged role in fomenting India’s deadly religious tensions.

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As South Asia bureau chief for Australia’s ABC News, Dias was based in New Delhi until her investigation into allegations Modi’s government was behind the assassination of Indian dissidents in Canada resulted in the non-renewal of her visa.

Modi’s suppression of his critics is having a chilling effect on the media and undermining the democratic process, she says.

This episode tells the story of Modi’s origins, his rise in politics and the questions over the direction of India under his leadership.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.