What does Modi’s personal popularity tell us about India’s political landscape?

The Prime Minister has consistently polled better than his party, the BJP, even if his overall ratings have declined. Eviane Leidig considers why this might be, and argues that due to the high degree of similarity between Indian political parties, the personality of potential leaders has become a crucial selling point. Modi has effectively exploited this by cultivating his own public image while maintaining a tactical distance from that of the BJP.