During India’s extensive national election season, the prevailing narrative across the country’s numerous cable news outlets was the overwhelming victory predicted for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, the actual election results on June 4 revealed a different story, as Modi’s party secured another term with the assistance of coalition partners, despite not achieving the anticipated landslide victory.
Many were shocked by the outcome, highlighting the failure of mainstream media to accurately gauge the support for the opposition movement. Initial predictions foresaw Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (B.J.P.) winning a significant majority of parliamentary seats, yet they fell short of these projections, securing only 240 out of the 543 available seats.
Observers have interpreted this disparity as a reflection of the extent to which Prime Minister Modi had influenced and subdued the mainstream media, creating an environment where accurate voter sentiments were overshadowed by inflated hype. Over the course of Modi’s tenure, various factors led news channels to become staunch supporters of his leadership, depicting him as an indomitable figure beyond any challenge.
A significant number of journalists in mainstream media outlets embraced Modi’s Hindu-centric vision for India, while those who dared to critique his policies or actions were marginalized, targeted, or silenced. This control over the media narrative contributed to a skewed portrayal of Modi’s popularity and achievements, ultimately leading to a surprising electoral outcome.
