A clear win for the BJP in the next general election appears challenging after its worst setback since 2014, with a resurgent Congress getting the better of it in saffron strongholds.

Used to scenes of jubilations and triumphant speeches from PM Modi and party president Amit Shah after almost every round of state polls, the BJP headquarters wore a subdued look as its top brass mulled over the losses in MP, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.