Narendra Modi is widely believed to be on the verge of winning his third consecutive general election, but voters in his constituency say other issues are on their minds in the lead up to the vote.
While Hindu nationalism was a strong factor in the last two elections, the mood this time seems to have shifted.Top leaders of the united Opposition say this time, the invincible prime minister will have a shrunken majority.
But the mood of the country seems to be different than it has been over the last 10 years of Mr Modi's rule with bread-and-butter issueslocated in the country's most significant state of Uttar Pradesh, which isLosing it, or facing a shrunken majority there, would be a blow to both Mr Modi's popular image as the defender of India's Hindus, and to party pride.Mr Modi's popularity remains high, both in his constituency and across the country's north.
"When people look at the last 10 years, they see that unemployment has never been higher, farmers have been cheated like never before."The prime minister had said he would make sure Varanasi would become the next Kyoto," he said."Basic amenities are missing, like solid waste management, sewage treatment plants, cleaning up the Ganges river."
"Under the Modi government, India's agricultural budget has increased five times from $AUD4.5 billion to 1.25 lakh crore . While most, even many Opposition voters, believe Mr Modi will win the seat as usual, there's a strong sense of disillusionment in the air. The cutting of public service 'fat cats' is popular, until it results in a bureaucracy run into the ground
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