Whether Indian democracy can survive another election of the kind just witnessed in Gujarat is a query that must exercise thinking people.

For it arises as much from the outcome of the elections to the Rajya Sabha from the state as the shenanigans in the run-up to the “prestige” (for want of an appropriate antonym) clash in which the BJP’s electoral mastermind had to suffer an ego-deflating snub ~ that too on home turf.

Ideally the narrative should have focused on Amit Shah’s maiden entry into Parliament, and Smriti Irani and Ahmed Patel returning to the Upper House; but, alas since 2014, elections, at any level, have ceased to be straightforward and the attention was concentrated on Shah’s bid to “unseat” the key political aide to Sonia Gandhi.

A mission in which he failed: despite members of the union cabinet engaging in an ugly show of strength at the Election Commission of India. That Shah was at centre of the controversy which resulted in the EC, in a reassuring assertion of its independence, invalidating two “cross votes” by BJP-enticed Congress MLAs proves that there is a limit to electoral manipulation.

And since there is none in the BJP firmament to advise the Prime Minister to shun distasteful power-hunger, there is reason to apprehend even worse from the party in coming polls ~ the “descent” of the ministerial council on Nirvachan Sadan may be a sign of things to come.

Nor, alas, is there anyone around in the Congress party who can convince “the family” that its time has run out ~ a Jairam Ramesh may wax eloquent in the media but is unlikely to support any initiative for a leadership revamp.

For the “defection” from the Congress’ ranks in Gujarat only points to an impending implosion. The systematic decimation of those who looked beyond the family has taken its toll. No need to list the governments it has “surrendered” because the inept Rahul Gandhi still handles the helm.

And it would be a cockeyed optimistic who thinks that Ahmed Patel’s scraping through on Tuesday night will trigger a rejuvenation of the party of “Sultans without a sultanate”, as Jairam put it. “Madam” may feel vindicated but for how long?

The sub-plots at Gandhinagar point to Nitish Kumar losing his grip over the Janata Dal (U) ~ its lone MLA’s contradictory positions were ludicrous ~ and Sharad Pawar’s double-dealing ran true to form. Perhaps only the Election Commission emerged with some honour.

Though it would be valid to ask why its local officials could not have stymied the BJP at the outset, and why its headquarters was allowed to be blatantly “bombarded” by political heavyweights