The Expulsion of Rahul Gandhi: Implications for Indian Politics

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has disqualified his principal rival, Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi, from office and future elections after his conviction on defamation charges. India's defamation law is notoriously punitive and subject to abuse, and Modi's government has deployed it as part of a systematic campaign to strengthen their hold on power. This move is a continuation of Modi's increasingly authoritarian tendencies, which have included a willingness to wield criminal law to silence his political opponents. The disqualification illustrates the continuing deterioration of India's democracy and Modi's and his allies' authoritarian bent.