How has Narendra Modi been able to win a second term as prime minister of the world’s biggest democracy and what  may it mean for Pakistan and the entire region is worth-exploring. Surprisingly, BJP’s dismal economic performance, increase in communal violence, especially against Muslims, currency demonetisation in 2016, and rise in unemployment didn’t translate into its defeat.

Perhaps more than Modi’s ‘vision’ for India, it was a weak political opposition that made things easy for BJP -- a Congress that couldn’t make its mark on the voters. We now know what didn’t matter in India’s election campaign was the Nehruvian idea of a secular, liberal, and socialist India. The Gandhian vision of an inclusive, non-violent India didn’t make an impact either. Then what did?

Among other factors, it can now be claimed that the election campaign of BJP and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was far more effective than the Congress Party and its United Progressive Alliance (UPA). Additionally, the social and electronic media made a big difference, influencing hundreds of millions of Indian voters, particularly its youth.

Modi also garnered support from the corporate sector, which he got in the form of financial contributions. But the game which he has managed to play most effectively is raising the slogan of Hindu nationalism and patriotism. The timing of the elections could not be more in his favour. The Pulwama and Balakot episodes had happened a few months before the elections.

Also read: Modi for a second time

For now, it seems religious hatred and communal politics has translated into votes. Anti-Muslim and anti-Pakistan actions were used to whip up nationalist sentiment, to the extent of coming close to a full-fledged war with Pakistan.

There is a silver lining though. Modi has urged his coalition’s newly elected MPs to work for communal harmony. But one of the first tests of this government could be when they decide to change the special constitutional status of the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir. Welcome to Modi’s second term in office!