Despite palpable discontent, anti-incumbency, new social fault lines, and an uneven campaign, Gujarat voters were still not prepared to abandon him. There was substantial rural discontent, but rural discontent alone will not be able to create a crescendo large enough to unseat the BJP. Rural discontent might be enough to create an opportunity for the opposition in states like Madhya Pradesh. But nationally, if the Congress is to compete, it will have to create an insurgent narrative around both urban and rural discontent. But equally, it cannot be denied that Indian democracy is poised at a moment fraught with danger.

Source: Indian Express December 18, 2017 18:30 UTC