Politics

Modi at 25: India's rise, its divisions and the cost of power

Narendra Modi: From Gujarat's chief ministership to India's highest political office, Narendra Modi's 25 years in power have transformed the country's politics, economy and institutions. But alongside welfare expansion and economic growth, questions persist over unemployment, inequality, press freedom and democratic accountability. What does his legacy mean for India?

Atri Bhattacharya
8 min read
Modi at 25: India's rise, its divisions and the cost of power

October 7, 2001. Against the backdrop of the devastating Gujarat earthquake, an RSS pracharak who was relatively unknown at the time took oath as Chief Minister, facing the challenge of rebuilding the state. Few could have imagined that this swearing-in would alter the course of Indian politics.

On October 7, 2026, that journey completed a quarter of a century. Narendra Damodardas Modi has spent 25 consecutive years in office as head of a government. First as Chief Minister of Gujarat and later ...

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Atri Bhattacharya
Atri Bhattacharya
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