The modest turnouts ( the number of people attending or taking part in an event, especially the number of people voting in an election)  in Maharashtra and Haryana  could have been expected, considering the lethargy ( a lack of energy and enthusiasm ) that had loomed ( (of an event regarded as threatening) seem about to happen)  over the Assembly election campaigns in both States. As the first test of public opinion after the Lok Sabha election and given the fact that both these States have been under Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule for the last five years, this could have been an occasion to test the party’s overall performance in government.

However, that was not how the campaign turned out as the BJP sought to focus the public attention on selective components of its track record related to national security and the Opposition collapsed in both States. Central investigative agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate appeared to be trying to tilt ( move or cause to move into a sloping ) the scale in the ruling party’s favour as they enthusiastically pursued ( follow or chase (someone or something))  old cases against Opposition leaders, in the midst of the campaign.

The BJP has brazenly ( in a bold and shameless way) cited military operations to score brownie ( an imaginary award given to someone who does good deeds or attempts to please) points in domestic politics always, and the claim of a muscular and militarist foreign policy was the mainstay ( a person or thing on which something else is based or ) of its campaign this time too. Given that context, the Indian Army’s announcement on the eve of the election that it had conducted another raid on terrorist targets in Pakistan-controlled territory could have helped the BJP. The BJP made fresh promises to the electorate, while it successfully avoided any discussion on some of the previous promises that remain undelivered.

Far from showing any sign of recovery since their crushing defeat in the Lok Sabha election, Opposition parties have sunk ( fail and not be seen or heard of again) further, as they continue to grope ( search blindly or uncertainly by feeling with the ) in the dark for an organising principle. They went to the polls with tired faces and old slogans (a motto associated with a political party or movement or other group), as if unaware of the intense appeal of Hindutva hyper nationalism that has numbed the public to the economic situation. The leadership crisis in the Opposition, in the Congress and regional parties, was all too visible through the campaign. While Rahul Gandhi made an occasional appearance, his mother Sonia Gandhi who succeeded him as Congress president, could not campaign at all due to ill health.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah who campaigned hard, sought to turn these State elections into yet another referendum ( a general vote by the electorate on a single political question which has been referred to them for a direct decision)  on their Hindutva national security agenda, breathing fire on illegal immigrants ( a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign ) and Pakistan. These State elections were also the first test of public opinion after the abrogation ( the repeal or abolition of a law, right, or agreement) of Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status on August 5. Public opinion in the rest of India has shown little sympathy to the sentiments of Kashmiris. There was little in the battle field that suggested there could be some surprise in store when the votes are counted on October 24.