evidence: Also Read | BJP secures dominant 3-2 victory in Assembly elections, amplifies Congress’ 2024 challenges [...] It was an excellent idea that worked in Karnataka. The Congress won the election, and its government subsequently came good on the promises. That election was seen as a game changer that suddenly changed expectations and inspired influential regional forces to push for a joint alliance with the Congress for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. That alliance was named INDIA and it currently seems to be imploding, although there are hopes that self-interest could still keep the parties together. Meanwhile, the BJP had learnt its lessons. For these Assembly elections, its thrust was not on Hindutva or national issues but on welfare schemes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had once dismissed welfare schemes as revadis (a derogatory term for freebies), focussed on them in the course of these campaigns. He now speaks of "Modi ki Guarantee", and this is no doubt a pitch that will extend to the national election.