It is impossible to deny that all of us underestimated the resurgence of India’s Congress party. It is also equally clear that undaunted by soaring heat and a long and exhausting campaign, roughly 420 million voters have produced the best possible outcome for India in what was the largest election of world history.

Multiple factors are always involved in producing a clear outcome in Indian elections, but these elections will be widely read as a moment of national redemption and renewal and a retreat, though not the end of, parochial political noise.