Regional satraps have disproved anti-incumbency factor in at least half-a-dozen states so far. These states include Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Orissa and Delhi. They are single-party governments. But Maharashtra is an exception in the sense that it has been running by a coalition since 1999.
The emergence of regional satraps may pose threat to the national leaders at a time when the national parties have been compelled to follow coalitions at the Centre.
Sources said the regional satraps would have a decisive say in the selection of candidates of their respective parties in the election going states.
It will be interesting to see whether Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit can make this factor irrelevant for a fourth time successively in 2013. She has been ruling the state since 1998 without a break,
While Mr Naveen Patnaik, Mr Tarun Gogoi and Mr Narendra Modi have become senior chief ministers running Orissa, Assam and Gujarat for more than a decade without a break, Dr Raman Singh and Mr Shivraj Singh Chouhan are ruling Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh for two terms consecutively.
Maharashta might have seen four chief ministers so far — Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh, Mr Sushilkumar Shinde, Mr Ashok Chavan and Mr Prathviraj Chavan — since 1999, the Congress-NCP combine has established its grip over power in these years. While Mr Modi is said to be keen to play a role at the national level after the Gujarat Assembly polls scheduled by the end of this year, Ms Dikshit may not be interested in getting a fourth term.
The Congress and the BJP are gearing up for the Assembly elections in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Delhi to be held.