ABSTRACT
Is there a difference between majoritarian nationalism and rightwing populism? How do we assess the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the centre? Is it majoritarian nationalist or rightwing populist? This chapter will attempt to answer such questions in the context of the post-2014 political scenario in India. It will precisely argue that the rightwing populism of the Modi led regime is authoritarian and is backed by the majoritarian nationalist project of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The ideological mentor of the BJP has a long tradition of majoritarian nationalism, while the Modi led regime is essentially rightwing populist combined with authoritarianism. This surge of authoritarianism is a global trend. In effect, globally, a return of the Hobbesian state and the waning of the Lockean state can be witnessed. However, in India, the Hobbesian state is getting expressed through the cult of a rightwing populist leader.
