It has certainly seemed so in the past decade, with the firm grip the BJP and its ideological fountainhead, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), have on India’s political landscape going almost unchallenged. Two consecutive and massive Lok Sabha wins are just one indicator of this dominance. Not surprisingly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his trusted lieutenant and Union home minister Amit Shah and the RSS luminaries—Mohan Bhagwat and Dattatreya Hosabale—occupy the top three slots of india today’s political power list. They are followed by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who holds the keys to the BJP’s electoral fortunes in a state with the highest number of Lok Sabha seats (80). There are two more from the BJP stable among the top 10—Union minister Nitin Gadkari, with his superlative performance in spreading our highways network, and BJP president J.P. Nadda, who has taken party organisation and election management skills to another level. With his successful Bharat Jodo Yatra, followed by the party’s landslide victory in Karnataka, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has firmly established himself as the top challenger to Modi. Giving him company in the power list are two other chief ministers—West Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee and Delhi’s Arvind Kejriwal. Both have prime ministerial ambitions and are seeking to expand their party’s wings beyond the home turf for national acceptance.
1 NARENDRA MODI, 72
PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA
CAPTAIN INVINCIBLE
This story is from the June 05, 2023 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 05, 2023 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BJP's Big Paschim Test
On paper, the BJP-RLD tie-up is a winner for the NDA in west UP, though the INDIA bloc thinks otherwise. The BSP's entry with mixed candidates can unsettle both alliances
Why Gen V Matters
The Way The 210 Million-Strong Generation Viksit Bharat Casts Its Vote Will Determine The Outcome Of This Election As It Has In The Past
Heart Stopper
Cushions with tales of beauty, serenity, art and nature
THE NIPPON NARRATIVE
Say konnichiwa to good design and sayōnara to bad aesthetics, as this apartment in Bangalore is a lesson in how to use Japanese design effectively
RURAL RESPLENDENCE
This second home in a small village in Uttar Pradesh brings to life the beauty and simplicity of locally sourced materials
Curves in the Right Places
Arches may be taking over interior design, but how and where you place them in your home can make or mar the look of the room
Marvels in Mud
Here's how this humble material is changing the way we look at eco-friendly homes in India
DESIGN FOR THE AGES
Five homes, five distinct design styles that help decode how to curate age-appropriate spaces
TAKE FIVE
FROM RUGS TO CUSHIONS, THESE DECOR PIECES WILL GIVE YOUR INTERIORS AN INSTANT MAKEOVER THIS SEASON
TRENDY TABLESCAPES
At the turn of the season, three fashion labels throw a soiree that is stylish, suave and sophisticated