Judging by the BJP's National Executive meeting held recently in Mumbai, it seems that the party is still dumbstruck by its unexpected defeat in the recent general elections. The meeting, to borrow from Macbeth, was "full of sound and fury signifying nothing". Facing up to the reason for its unexpected reverse is somehow proving difficult for a party of smooth talkers who had the ability to negotiate themselves out of many tricky situations.

THE TROUGHS: Our previous covers on a troubled BJP

The most common explanation for the BJP's defeat has been arrogance. While there is some truth in it, this explanation has, in fact, prevented the BJP from any genuine soul-searching. The questions of whose arrogance and the cause of this arrogance remain unanswered. The sugar-coating continues as does the hunt for easy scapegoats: the allies were responsible for the BJP's poor showing in key states, the media was too obsessed with Gujarat, the Congress had not really won. The blame, it appears, lies everywhere but at the BJP's doorstep.

Today the BJP does not appear any closer to formulating a roadmap to win back lost ground. The party has indicated, though, that it wants to return to the platform that brought it to power-hardline Hindutva. But India's political realities are changed from the days when Hindutva swayed masses and earned votes. Coalition politics rules and it demands the strategic wooing and keeping of allies. This is what cost the BJP the 2004 elections; if ignored today, it may continue to cost them tomorrow. In any other democratic country, such a defeat would have been followed by a change in the party's senior leadership. The BJP's claim that it was collectively accountable now seems to suggest that it is collectively absolved.

Our cover story this week puts the party, that until not so long ago led the government, under scrutiny. Editor Prabhu Chawla analyses why and where the BJP continues to stumble. Special Correspondent Priya Sahgal, who travelled to the BJP's National Executive meet, brings us an account of the stormy goings-on in Mumbai. Chawla says, "During the past six years, the BJP has changed from a party of karyakartas (workers) to a party of leaders for whom conviction is just a matter of convenience."

The present state of the BJP sends out a warning to all other parties. Take nothing for granted, specially the voter. And learn the lessons of history rather than bury them.