BJP outsider image questioned after 12 years in power

Deccan Herald reports that after 12 years in power, the BJP faces the question of whether it can still position itself as an outsider. The newspaper's analysis, by Sumit Pande, notes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has used electoral victories to set the political narrative rather than merely respond to it.

The article, published on August 16, 2026, observes that the BJP has long enjoyed a formidable political advantage in shaping the national conversation. But after more than a decade in government, the party's ability to maintain an anti-establishment image is uncertain. The piece does not offer a conclusive answer but underscores the shift in the BJP's political dynamics after years of dominance.