BJP drums up support as Modi faces voter fatigue in Indian polls

Ruling party faces resurgent opposition, bread and butter issues, youth discontent

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As Prime Minister Narendra Modi faces voter fatigue and some resistance from a resurgent opposition in India's mammoth general election, foot soldiers of his party's Hindu nationalist parent have stepped in to help regain momentum, insiders said.

With less than two weeks left of a six-week voting schedule, voter turnout has been lower than in previous elections, raising concern within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that some of its core supporters were staying away.

Mr Modi's party, chasing a rare third term in office, has also faced stronger opposition than anticipated in a handful of states, leading election experts and Indian financial markets to adjust forecasts of a landslide win.

With no exit polls allowed until all the voting is completed on June 1, it is difficult to judge how well or poorly candidates are faring. But most analysts say Mr Modi should be able to retain a majority in the 543-seat Parliament when votes are counted on June 4.

"The trend is suggesting that Modi will be back in power with a reduced majority," said Mr Rasheed Kidwai, a visiting fellow at the Observer Research Foundation think-tank.

But he added: "Any shortfall of a clear mandate of 300 seats for BJP will reflect poorly on Modi."

At the start of the campaign, Mr Modi was projected to win up to three-fourths of the seats, with the opposition led by Mr Rahul Gandhi, the scion of the Gandhi-Nehru dynasty, a distant second.

After the first two phases of voting, though, analysts and political workers said the chances of the BJP getting above 362 seats, the two-thirds majority required to bring changes in the Constitution, had been affected.