I love Indian elections. While I do not wish frequent polls on the electorate, when they do happen through no fault of mine, I get a great thrill from watching the world's largest democracy at work. The television coverage of early campaigning in Gujarat convinced me that the election was going to be one of the most interesting in recent times, full of colour and energy. I travelled to the state for a closer look and had the good fortune of spending a day each with the two main protagonists, Narendra Modi and Shankersinh Vaghela.

The reaction to the two men at public meetings was contrasting and revealing. Modi, theatrical, dramatic and flamboyant, worked his audience to tears and laughter, anger and fear all in a single speech. Today, I rank him as the best speaker and campaigner in Indian politics. There was a palpable hysteria during his rallies, a spontaneous response that reminded me of the reaction to V.P. Singh during his 1988-89 sweeps through Uttar Pradesh or the Janata Party's return to power after the Emergency in 1977.

Vaghela, on the other hand, was subdued, talking about less emotional issues like water and electricity. Crowds paid attention but there was no fervour. If meetings and public rallies were anything to go by, it would have been simple to predict a Modi sweep, but Indian elections with local issues and caste equations are not so simple to call.

The landslide victory for Modi has implications beyond Gujarat. The result has disturbed many as it has come in the wake of the bloodiest communal riots since 1993. The BJP, which has lost major states after coming to power at the Centre, is now rejuvenated. With nine assembly elections due next year, there is discussion in all parties on whether to treat Gujarat as a template for how elections should be fought and won. It is a dangerous road to go down.

Our cover story analyses what the Gujarat result could mean for the people of the state and the country, and politicians of all dispositions. In some ways, Gujarat was a battle for the soul of India. If it sets a pattern for political events and strategy to follow, where emotions and religious rhetoric subsume real issues, Gujarat could become a watershed election. In that case, the country's politics and politicians may get more than they bargained for.

(Aroon Purie)