Cannot blame you for the inference, given your outlook as an outsider.
My assessment is that India is/has been undergoing a large transformation where majority of its populace recently got access to wealth of information over Internet and New media - and suddenly feel as if they have a voice now (through social media). This has led to most feeling that they are heard (not realising that they are just noise) and a false sense of power - thus inherently getting drawn towards someone like Modi or BJP which thrives on bravado.
As society matures over time, I expect this eccentric nature of the majority to taper and become more rational and objective. At least I hope so!
That is a assessment, through Western Lens
The primary reason Modi/BJP got to power, is that Congress made a mess of things with Corruption and became weak as it couldn't garner full majority during it's second tenure.
He stayed in power because of various reasons - No proper alternative (who will vote for a Congress led by Rahul?) / No scandals / Overall strong leadership / A clear sense of future direction for country.
Talking about Gujarat on PDF is foolish, cause whatever you say, they will call Modi whatever cause it frees the conscience.
General people aren't foolish in India, that they feel just because of internet they think their voice is heard lol. Ask the most uneducated here, and they will tell it isn't so. Am not ignoring the groups who definitely feel a sense of pride (as in Bajrang Dal, VHP etc), with BJP in power. However this has been the case with other parties too, their respective fringe groups start jumping up and down when their party is in power.
Don't hear the assessment of few 'intellectuals', sitting in Delhi or Mumbai and figure out things here. Arithmetic and Equations change for every 200 to 300 kms, each state has it's own unique dynamic. It's just that BJP is hungry and geared up to win all the time, and the Opposition is inept to keep handing them things on platter that there is no viable alternative to Modi.
There is no one equation in this massive land, but one thing is now for certain.
Gone are the days when the name Gandhi fetched votes