The only bright spot for Congress was the reelection of Shiela Dikshit as chief minister of Delhi. Interestingly, the election of Uma Bharati in MP and Vasundhara Raje in Rajasthan brings to five the number of female chief ministers in India. This emergence of a solid bloc of influential female leaders must be considered an encouraging development whatever one's political inclinations.

The BJP's impressive performance can be expected to strengthen its hand at the centre by showing it is capable of gaining in areas that had previously been considered Congress strongholds, though one does not wish to read too much into the results of an anti-incumbency sentiment that could work against the BJP in national polls that are presently scheduled for next September.

The real significance of yesterday's results was its demonstration of how badly Congress has slipped in public support. It is clear that Congress has a lot of work to do if it credibly wishes to challenge the BJP in national elections next year. The defeat of three incumbent chief ministers was more of an expression of lack of confidence in the their governance record than an endorsement of the BJP, and if Congress cannot perform better in its strongholds, how can it be expected to make inroads elsewhere.

Fortunately for Congress, the BJP is still in disarray in UP and Bihar, the two states with the most national assembly seats, and is in no hurry to call snap polls to capitalise on its current popularity. But the real lesson from yesterday's results is that voters cannot be taken for granted, and that power is very much up for grabs in next year's national elections.