India's epic election ends as Modi meditates

Gandhi, 48, has tried several lines of attack against Modi, in particular over alleged corruption in a French defence deal -- he calls Modi a "liar" -- and over the plight of farmers and on the economy.

Modi's government has fallen short on creating jobs for the million Indians entering the labour market every month, the shock introduction of a cash ban in 2016 caused huge disruption to livelihoods, and Indian banks are gasping under bad debts.

Lynchings of Muslims and low-caste Dalits for eating beef, slaughtering and trading in cattle have risen during Modi's tenure, leaving some of the country's 170 million Muslims feeling threatened and anxious for their future.

But Modi has managed since the latest bust-up with Muslim-majority Pakistan in February to deflect the attacks of "pappu" ("fool" Gandhi and portray himself as India's "chowkidar" ("watchman".

"Modi is the only leader who thinks about us Hindus. He is our pride. He is the only saviour of Hindus," Bibha Sandwar, a school principal, 50, told AFP at a recent rally in Delhi.
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