A win is a win. Although, this is by all accounts, a modest victory. Given the fact that the BJP is at the peak of its dominance as an electoral force today, and that Gujarat is the centre of the BJP universe, winning by this margin is not something the party can be enthusiastic about. That for a moment early on in the counting, the Congress looked like it could actually win, must have given many in the party a heart attack.

For the Congress, the result is a reprieve of sorts. It has lost, but after a long time it has offered some real resistance. It has also shown its willingness and ability to work with partners, and this augurs well for the party in 2019. However, equally,posture will become more polarising. Also, it could argue that the Gujarat results vindicate this approach and that had Modi not used this appeal, the outcome could have gone the other way.

What the BJP has going for it is the persona of Narendra Modi. It is clear that he still has a strong connection with voters, and that his personal credibility continues to be high. However, if he continues to be used the way he was in Gujarat in every forthcoming election, then by 2019, he runs the risk of overexposure and voter fatigue.

In 2014, the BJP evolved a winning platform. The hard and the soft elements of its strategy came together in creating an emotional current in its favour. Today the elements are disparate pieces that do