Unexpected results have left the Congress party reeling in the wake of the most recent state elections. Although they won in Telangana, the party was unexpectedly unsuccessful in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh. This electoral whirlwind raises the interesting question of whether the success or failure of Congress is associated with the opponent's preference for state apparatus and governance over pure political tactics. Abundance of self confidence and internal strife The Congress party's defeat in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh was mostly characterised by internal strife and an abundance of self-confidence. But another aspect—the character of politics in these states—becomes apparent upon closer inspection. In Madhya Pradesh, where there is a strong Hindutva political c...