Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party has adopted a muscular nationalist plank. © AP
Five years ago, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi rode to power on the back of some expansive economic promises: millions of jobs, double-digit economic growth, an end to government corruption, and a general pledge of "achhe din" or good times.

After five years of mixed success in fulfilling those promises, Modi is now seeking re-election, in a national poll that began on April 11.

As before, his pitch is dosed with plenty of economic populism. But this time he is standing less on the basis of economic issues than on a new, and more controversial, set of priorities -- "zero tolerance" on national security and a nationalist appeal to Hindus, who account for 80% of all voters. Where he once tried to unite Indians with the promise of "sab ka saath, sab ka vikas," or progress for all, he is now not afraid of taking a more divisive approach.