Mr Modi acquired the aura of a man who took brave decisions to help the poor at the expense of the powerful. The BJP didn't even bother to put up a candidate for chief minister, relying purely on Mr Modi's charisma. That would be the Mr Modi that many hoped and imagined they were getting in 2014. Analysts declaring that Mr Modi's dominance means that a new era of reform is inevitable are being a trifle overconfident. And certainly, it's tough to interpret it as a sign that India's voters are eager for economic reform.

Source: Bangkok Post March 13, 2017 21:56 UTC