Even in the famous “onion election” in Delhi in 1998, when the BJP lost power and Sheila Dikshit began her long innings, the turnout was only 49 per cent.

• On November 27, Madhya Pradesh set a record with a turnout of 69.31 per cent. This is far higher than the average turnout in the state between 1989 and 2003, of 58.3 per cent.

It is even higher than the figure in 2003, when turnout leaped from 60.2 per cent in 1998 to 67.3 per cent in an election in which wave-like conditions had been created.

The 2003 election was MP’s “bijli-sadak-paani” election in which the two-term ruling party, the Digvijay Singh-led Congress, was reduced to only 39 seats.

The BJP secured 171 seats, a three-fourths majority, and a double-digit lead in terms of the popular vote over the Congress.

• J&K continues to take everyone by surprise by the unprecedented and unexpected levels of polling in the third phase on November 30. Despite a boycott call, despite massive pro-separatist rallies barely months ago, turnout was 63.75 per cent in the first phase, 65.09 per cent in the second and rose to 68.22 per cent in the third.

• Less surprisingly, Mizoram — a state that has traditionally had high levels of turnout and which at 79.4 per cent has the highest average turnout, 1989-2003 — has posted a 70 per cent plus turnout this time.

At the very least, these turnout percentages in states that went to polls after the Mumbai attacks underline the limited reach — and representativeness — of the ongoing anti-politician tirade. They also tell a heartening story about the country’s continuing engagement with the political process.

... contd.