Opposition Unites Against Modi After Gandhi's Conviction.

India's opposition parties are uniting against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after the conviction of opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on a charge of defamation and his disqualification from parliament. The opposition parties, which account for 39% of the national vote, have petitioned the Supreme Court, saying opposition groups were being selectively targeted by federal investigative agencies. However, forging a lasting unity will be difficult as the parties have different aspirations and ambitions. Modi remains hugely popular with high approval ratings after nine years in power and has been expected to easily win a third term in the face of a so-far divided opposition.