The power of the people can create history and India too has created a new history of sorts. Congress is decimated and the victory of BJP has surpassed all Exit Polls. The NDA has surpassed the 325-mark and BJP, on its own has so far crossed its previous 272, currently ruling over 300. If last time was a land sweep, this time around it is a complete, full and clear mandate for Modi.

The voting was for Modi getting a second term and he will now take his chair back as the second term PM. What we have also seen is that in lands ruled by tribals, Congress continues to hold sway but in new India regions, people have booted out dynasty and want to continue to Modi, despite demonetization, unemployment and everything else that did not seem right. Looks like the persona of Modi and the national security theme played very well while on the other hand, Congress did not seem to have any clear vision – the fear was if UPA won, it would be back to the Gandhi family and all the age-old politicians. Rajasthan assembly election was a perfect example of what could happen if UPA got voted. The Hindi heartland, which is supposedly a deep-rooted Congress bastion, the BJP got a thumping victory.

Compared to 2014, states of Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Himachal, MP, Karnataka, Delhi, Odisha, Rajasthan, UP, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Tripura, Maharashtra, Assam, Manipur and Arunchal Pradesh. And even the elusive West Bengal, this time around the BJP has got more votes and looks like the Left got completely wiped out! In Bihar, it’s a complete sweep for NDA.

The victory of BJP/NDA was a given but no one in their wildest dreams had expected this kind of complete win. This kind of win for one single party is a loud voice for a complete change; people across the country voted single mindedly for Modi and his victory was through BJP – yes, one can say that this was more like a USA style Presidential election.

The real shocker was the news of Rahul Gandhi fighting for survival in Amethi, which has been the traditional, almost ‘family’ bastion. Losing there is like people at home itself giving you a thumbs down. The loss in Amethi should actually drive home the message to the Gandhi’s that they need to ditch the Gandhi tag and allow other younger and more capable stars to rise. If they had listened to this message, of chucking away the Gandhi’s, UPA might have had a better run!

YSRCP winning big time in Andhra, Mamata holding sway in West Bengal but losing out some seats to BJP will get her really agitated. The Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) continues to lead in Sikkim. In Odisha, Naveen Patnaik led his BJD to victory. Manohar Parrikar’s loss was acutely felt in Goa and the most seat in Panjim was lost to Congress’s Atanasio Monserrate. And yes, the Man of the Match is undoubtedly Amit Shah winning in Gandhinagar, a constituency always associated with L K Advani. Shashi Tharoor won and he rightly said, “feel like a batsman who has scored a century while his team has lost.”

Well, let us celebrate this win over the next two days and then worry on Monday about the daunting tasks which lay ahead for Modi.

For updates on who won and who lost, this is the best site for follow-up without the cacophony of the TV anchors and panels - http://eciresults.nic.in/statewiseS24.htm?st=S24