Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

Narendra Modi

Once a poor tea seller, India's PM is running for a second term

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CAREER

Joined a Hindu hardline nationalis­t group at the age of eight and left home as a teenager to become an activist

Joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the mid-80s, rising fast through its ranks

Became chief minister of his Gujarat home state in 2001

Led the BJP into the 2014 general election where his party won the biggest landslide in India's history

Has never given a press conference as prime minister

REPUTATION

Espouses outspoken nationalis­t causes and portrays himself as the tough guy protecting national security and Hindu values

Regales rallies with stories of how he is "a son of soil," contrastin­g himself with Rahul Gandhi as a spoiled member of a political dynasty

Much like US President Trump, frequently uses social media to amplify his opinions and policies; his personal Twitter account has 47.3 million followers

 ??  ?? Age: 68
Age: 68

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