Millions of Indians will go to the poll between March and May 2019 to decide the next lower house of India’s Parliament, Lok Sabha. Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Mr Modi, has been popular with voters since its 2014 Indian general election win. But the Hindu nationalist party’s power has lessened in recent months amid anger about increasing unemployment and a growing agricultural crisis.
What happened in the state elections?
BJP suffered big political defeats to main opponents Congress in three major state elections in December.
The state elections are regarded as the test run for the 2019 main election.
Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, defeated the BJP in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
The centre-left party scored heavy wins, pummelling its right-wing rival in Chhattisgarh.
Congress took 68 of the 90 seats in the central-eastern state, while BJP struggled with just 15, according to the Election Commission of Indian.
Farmers are making up large numbers of voters opting to back Congress.
They are angry about so-called ‘anti-farmer policies’ including loan waivers, low crop prices and the lack of support available for farmers hit by drought.
In November, farmers marched in their tens of thousands to vent their frustration at current conditions.
More than half the population of India works in agriculture so the criticism has become a pressing issue.
The unemployment rate is also creeping upwards with rising youth joblessness occupying a bigger agenda.
An estimated one million children are expected to hit 18 over the next few years and enter the job market.
Recent opinion polls show the election race is tight.
A December ABP News/C Voter poll predicted a hung parliament in this year’s election.
But at the moment, neither a win for BJP or Congress is guaranteed.
Mr Modi is now stepping up campaigning appearances ahead of the elections, starting off 2019 with rallies in Silchar and Barak Valley on January 4.