While this is not the time to indulge in even an attempt at a full analysis, the simplistic answer would be to give in to the temptation of invoking anti-incumbency (AP, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab, Haryana; the states of Chattisgarh, MP, Rajasthan and Delhi perhaps get exemption due to the "honeymoon period" of six months). Even more sobering would be to reflect on the fact that as many as 25 ministers of the Vajpayee government, including such heavyweights as Murli Manohar Joshi, Ram Naik and I.D. Swami and the speaker Manohar Joshi, have been defeated at the hustings. A clear case of being seen as out of sync with the policies of reforms. Likewise, the voters have gone in for change by refusing to elect Shivraj Patil and P.M. Sayeed, from Latur and Lakshadweep respectively, from where they had been elected consecutively for the last seven successive terms.