London, A recent analysis by The Economist has spotlighted the deepening regional divide within India, delineating the country into two distinct blocs: a prosperous South and a lagging North. This division, harbors potential risks for India’s unity, highlighting disparities in economic development, governance, and political allegiance that could fuel fragmentation.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the analysis describes the Northern Bloc as being heavily influenced by policies that promote the Hindi language and a male Hindu identity, while marginalizing Muslims. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure is marked by an emphasis on Hindu nationalism, which, despite efforts towards economic development, finds less resonance in the wealthier Southern states. These states exhibit less support for Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), relying instead on their burgeoning urbanization, prosperity, and effective governance to attract international investment.

The report elucidates that the Southern Bloc, comprising Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, accounts for 20% of India’s population but contributes significantly more to the nation’s GDP, high-tech industries, and international business appeal. In stark contrast, the BJP draws its primary support from the rural, Hindi-speaking, and economically less affluent regions of the North. This divide is anticipated to play a crucial role in the forthcoming elections, with long-term implications that could strain India’s constitutional framework and market unity.

The Economist further warns of the implications of the geographical divide on the nation’s future, especially with the scheduled redrawing of parliamentary constituencies beyond 2026. There is apprehension that attempts to impose Hindi as the national language might exacerbate tensions between the North and the South, potentially destabilizing the fragile equilibrium that maintains India’s unity.

This comprehensive analysis sheds light on the complexities of India’s internal divisions and the challenges they pose to the country’s cohesion, governance, and development trajectory.