State leaders in the National Party, the coalition's junior partner, called on the government this week to ditch the sale.

ECONOMIST: Australia

Throw in farmers and town-dwellers who have turned against the National Party, the coalition's junior partner, whose power-base lies in regional Australia, and the government has had to concentrate on survival at all costs.

ECONOMIST: The government bids to stay in power

The second challenge is distrust inside his own party and among national coalition partners.

ECONOMIST: Narendra Modi wants to be India��s next prime minister