India, May 11 -- The verdict in West Bengal cannot be understood merely through the lazy shorthand of "anti-incumbency." Yes, Mamata Banerjee's government had accumulated enormous baggage over fifteen years in power. Corruption scandals, decay in law and order, allegations of syndicate raj, political violence, arrogance within sections of the Trinamool Congress, and administrative fatigue had alienated many Bengalis. Similar anti-incumbency currents were visible against MK Stalin in Tamil Nadu and Pinarayi Vijayan in Kerala.

But the real question is this: why does anti-incumbency seem to operate only against non-BJP governments? If Mamata Banerjee could be punished for governance failures, how did Himanta Biswa Sarma escape virtually un...