Even before he staged a highly publicised 45-hour meditation in Kanyakumari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited the southern Tamil Nadu region multiple times, canvassing for party old-timers. In total, he visited Tamil Nadu seven times, hoping to shore up the party’s prospects in a state where voters have always looked down upon the cow-belt party. But come counting day, it has all come to nought.

While the DMK led an umbrella alliance of parties of all hues, the BJP was not far behind, cobbling together a coalition of the PMK and sundry parties and independents. But, even Sowmiya Anbumani, the PMK honcho’s wife, who led at various points in the day, lost the prestigious Dharmapuri seat by a slender margin.