India, Nov. 10 -- Since the evening of November 6, after the first phase in the Bihar assembly election ended, analysts, pundits, and assorted experts went into a tizzy. The single point of discussion was why and how did the voter turnout increase by about 10 per cent this time. They ascribed several reasons for it. One view stated that there is an anti-incumbency wave, which will benefit the opposition. Another school of thought maintained that recent experiences prove that voter turnouts zoom during the pro-incumbency waves.

A third view includes those who believe in the Prashant Kishore effect, according to which the young voters deserted their castes and other identities, and sought changes because they were desperate. Now, I do not ...