Most Indian political experts had predicted that the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) would comfortably return to power in Gujarat which is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state and original power base.
Whilst poll results on Monday showed that the BJP was indeed set to return to office, the probable diminished margin of victory as compared with the main opposition Congress party is striking. The BJP's lead over Congress in the state assembly has collapsed from an average of 66 seats (a third of the total seats) over the last five assembly elections to a dramatic low this time of under 20 seats.
