A must win situation.

"The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is cruising to a third consecutive term despite not doling out populist measures in the interim budget because the country has seen true progress and development and is voting on the basis of the difference in their lives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.., accusing the opposition of introducing divisive agenda into the poll campaign." HT. NDA is an alliance of 38 parties, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Jagran Josh. BJP's manifesto is called "Modi ki Guarantee" (Modi's Guarantee) and is full of giveaways. HT. "Mr Modi says his government has spent more than 34 trillion rupees ($400 billion) in the past decade, delivering direct cash benefits to low-income households reaching over 900 million people. A yearly handout of Rs 6,000 to more than 110 million farmers constitutes one of the world's largest cash transfer programs." BBC. At a campaign rally in April Mr Modi claimed that the Congress Party will take away the Mangal Sutra (sacred thread that married Hindu women wear round their necks) (Sampati) and give all the gold to Muslims. "He described Muslims as 'illegal immigrants' who produce many children." ET. For Mr Modi to claim that he does not resort to populism and that the Opposition is "introducing divisive agenda" is not his usual 'jumla' (bluff) (DH). This is 'pants on fire' (VOA) stuff. Then, "Union home minister Amit Shah said...India would take back Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) if the BJP-led NDA returns to govt at the Centre under Prime Minister Narendra Modi." TOI. But, PoK is almost 100% Muslim. As part of India they will produce more children. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has had the best of relations with Western leaders in his twin terms so far. Not so with the Western media, who have an assortment of descriptors for him ranging from strongman to autocrat," wrote Prabhu Chawla. Mr Chawla is unaware that there are millions of Indians with worse opinion of this government but are terrified to say so. This government cannot afford to lose. Not just the BJP but also the 25 prominent opposition politicians facing criminal charges who have joined  the BJP, 23 of whom have seen the charges dropped, will do anything to ensure Mr Modi wins. Mint. "The ruling party is likely worried that if it were to leave the government, PM Cares funding details will also be revealed." The Wire. "A Paris-based investigative website Mediapart has reported that the Narendra Modi-led government is refusing to cooperate with French judges in their ongoing investigation into the alleged corruption in the sale of 36 Dassault-built Rafale fighter jets to India in 2016 for 7.8 billion euros. TNIE. There was the Pegasus surveillance software. And "Investigative journalists have found that there is a gap of about Rs 60,000 crore (Rs 600 billion) between what the BJP spent in the last ten years and what it officially said it received as donations." Crimes have mounted up in 10 years. Will the BJP win? They have to. Or else.