If Mr. Modi wins a second consecutive term, simply Jawaharlal Nehru’s first-ever prime minister to do so.
The BJP was expected to battle largely on the back of its president’s security record, Hindu patriotism, national surveillance credentials and Mr Modi’s personable management.
But earlier in the vote, Mr Modi’s plan shifted wheels, using divisive speech that raised questions about his tactics- he accused the criticism, led by the Congress party, of appeasing the Muslim minority group.
Copyright: Getty Images
Enter polls predict a profit for the BJP-led ally, and Mr. Modi appears to be assured of winning, but opposition parties claim that if he stays in power, Indians will lose many privileges.
They have accused the BJP administration of denying them a level playing field.
A second successive battle would be a significant setback for the opposition, who has been out of control for a century, casting doubts on Rahul Gandhi’s command of the Congress party.