NationalInterest: Muslim voters no longer matter to BJP. Only a new Hindu-led coalition can challenge Modi-Shah episode artwork

EPISODE · May 9, 2026 · 10 MIN

NationalInterest: Muslim voters no longer matter to BJP. Only a new Hindu-led coalition can challenge Modi-Shah

from ThePrint · host ThePrint

These elections mark completion of BJP-secular party divide purely on Hindu-Muslim basis. BJP’s rivals are increasingly looking like Muslim parties though their leaders are all Hindus. On the evidence of the latest state elections, especially in West Bengal and Assam where Muslims constitute upwards of 30 percent of the electorate, the issue remains the same, if more compounded. The answers are more vexed. And politically, the conclusion would be, Muslims today matter even less to the Modi-Shah BJP than they did in 2019. Watch this week’s #NationalInterest with Shekhar Gupta:   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To Read this week's National Interest: https://theprint.in/national-interest/india-muslims-modi-shah-bjp-congress-secularism/2926251/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To Read 2019 National Interest: https://theprint.in/national-interest/do-muslims-matter-for-modi-shah-bjp-or-india/325173/  

These elections mark completion of BJP-secular party divide purely on Hindu-Muslim basis. BJP’s rivals are increasingly looking like Muslim parties though their leaders are all Hindus. On the evidence of the latest state elections, especially in West Bengal and Assam where Muslims constitute upwards of 30 percent of the electorate, the issue remains the same, if more compounded. The answers are more vexed. And politically, the conclusion would be, Muslims today matter even less to the Modi-Shah BJP than they did in 2019. Watch this week’s #NationalInterest with Shekhar Gupta:   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To Read this week's National Interest: https://theprint.in/national-interest/india-muslims-modi-shah-bjp-congress-secularism/2926251/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To Read 2019 National Interest: https://theprint.in/national-interest/do-muslims-matter-for-modi-shah-bjp-or-india/325173/

NOW PLAYING

NationalInterest: Muslim voters no longer matter to BJP. Only a new Hindu-led coalition can challenge Modi-Shah

0:00 10:05

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of ThePrint?

This episode is 10 minutes long.

When was this ThePrint episode published?

This episode was published on May 9, 2026.

What is this episode about?

These elections mark completion of BJP-secular party divide purely on Hindu-Muslim basis. BJP’s rivals are increasingly looking like Muslim parties though their leaders are all Hindus. On the evidence of the latest state elections, especially in...

Can I download this ThePrint episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!