Jeremy Carl : Narendra Modi 's victory in India can teach U.S. Republicans some lessons . But whether Modi succeeds or fails in governing , the GOP could learn a number of lessons from his successful campaign , one that showed how an allegedly `` extreme '' candidate of a party disdained by media and cultural elites can achieve unprecedented electoral success without sacrificing its principles . He says Modi was able to gain a majority in a complex nation of 1.2 billion people . Modi focused on the economy and expanded his party 's appeal to wider base , he says . The BJP won more than half the seats in parliament for the first time since 2009. Modi did n't let media define him and made skillful use of social media .
Jeremy Carl : Narendra Modi 's victory in India can teach U.S. Republicans some lessons . He says Modi was able to gain a majority in a complex nation of 1.2 billion people . Modi focused on the economy and expanded his party 's appeal to wider base , he says . The BJP won more than half the seats in parliament for the first time since 2009. Modi did n't let media define him and made skillful use of social media .