Since time immemorial, there have been claimants of divine origin or divine vocation among leaders. Often, kings have claimed unchallengeable divine rights and rules proclaimed by them to be god-given mandates. More often than not, these have turned out to be lunatics and tyrants. So, Modi's asseveration of divine inspiration is hardly surprising, given that it is not the first time he has claimed it. However, the elections have an unusual tendency to emphasise particulars which might hitherto have been neglected as trivial.

BJP's Sambit Patra, in a miscalculated move, remarked that "lord Jagannath is a devotee of Modi", eliciting critical reactions from all quarters. Though he later justified himself as making a gaffe, he had already provided ammunition to opposition parties waiting to snipe the BJP. Political and social analysts agree that there is something more sinister behind such remarks.

PM Modi, in an interview before filing his nomination, had claimed that after his mother's death, all his experiences led him to believe that he was not born biologically and that he was dispatched by god, and his energy was given divinely.

The supporters of the Ayodhya temple enthusiastically embrace Modi's 'divine consciousness' claim. When Modi asserts he is the chosen 'instrument' of god representing all Indians during the temple's consecration—a role typically reserved for spiritual leaders—he finds many admirers. He is seen as a hero, a saviour from the clutches of Mughal and colonial rule.

To ascend to the zenith, the PM has consistently projected an image of heroism and unilateral leadership while intertwining politics with religion. This feat was achievable due to the lack of substantial resistance against the relentless attacks on democratic principles and their subsequent erosion.

A significant reason for the absence of protest is the citizens' ignorance, which is not unexpected when successive governments have failed to educate a large segment of the population. Equally crucial, if not more so, is the influence of religion in people's lives. Under such circumstances, it is easy to impose the reasons for failure and deceit on foreign agencies.

Heroism and inspiration are only steps before postulating divinity. Looking at the gradual march in the BJP's portrayal of Modi over the past decade it has been in power, it is clear what it eventually wants to achieve. Patra's words are no slip of the tongue. It is what he believes. There is no doubt about how effective brainwashing has been.

If not critically examined, the claim of divine inspiration by political leaders like Modi could potentially lead to the erosion of democratic values in India. This claim bestows upon the leader a divine right akin to royalty, thereby undermining the principles of equality and accountability in a democratic system. It is crucial to recognise the potential consequences of such claims and to encourage rational examination of the actions of such leaders.