London/ Islamabad: The rout of the BJP-led alliance in the crucial assembly polls in Bihar is the “most significant domestic setback” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, global media commented on Sunday, saying it shows that his vote-winning abilities were on the wane.
BJP’s failure to win the election in Bihar is seen as indication that Modi’s appeal to voters has begun to wane, the Guardian said.
“India’s ruling party has conceded defeat in a provincial election seen as a test of the vote-winning abilities and political strategy of the prime minister, Narendra Modi,” it said as Modi prepared to make a high-profile maiden visit to the UK this week.
BJP’s loss in Bihar “is the most significant domestic setback for Modi since he won a crushing victory in a general election in the emerging economic power last year, after a campaign promising rapid development, modernisation and opportunity combined with a defence of conservative cultural and social values,” the paper said.
“Modi won a convincing victory in last year’s national elections, but this poll was seen as a referendum on his economic programme,” the BBC said. (Agencies)
