Modi Can Bounce Back - Just Like His Great Admirer, Trump

Narendra Modi was the first world leader to be given a tour of the White House by a freshly elected Donald Trump.

- KIM SENGUPTA

If that wasn’t enough of an honour, as well as a show of political intent, it was followed with a dinner attended by first lady Melania, vice-president Mike Pence, and every single senior member of the Trump administration.

Three years later, in 2020, Trump visited India with his family, and drew 125,000 people to a rally, “Namaste Trump”, at the Motera Stadium (now the Narendra Modi Stadium) in Modi’s home state of Gujarat.

After “Madman Across the Water” by Elton John and “Macho Man” by Village People – both Trump rally favourites – had been belted out to the dancing crowd, Trump laid it on thick: “America loves India, respects India. India gives hope to all of humanity.” Modi was “a man I am proud to call my true friend”.

That was then. In recent days, the two populist strongmen have experienced serious setbacks. Modi did not get the widely expected resounding majority in the general election. Trump became the first former president to become a convicted felon, having been found guilty on all counts in his hush money trial.

But Modi will still be the leader, albeit heading a coalition administration, for an unprecedented third term of the world’s most populous country with the fifth largest economy – one due to be the third largest by the end of the decade.

There are various permutations in the polls about the effect of Trump’s convictions on the electorate. But he continues to lead Joe Biden in five of the six battleground states, and may yet return as head of the world’s only remaining superpower. While much of liberal Europe is aghast at the prospect of Trump redux, many in Modi’s circle think it will be good for India for a variety of reasons.