KEY TAKEAWAYS

It is being said that the Pulwama attack and subsequent air strikes might help BJP in the 2019 polls by consolidating voters

In a first-past-the-post system, even a consolidation of voters might not ensure an increase in seats BJP’S own history in 1993 UP and 2002 Gujarat elections can be cited to prove this point. Both were extremely polarised, and BJP increased its vote share compared to what it was earlier

But its seat share went up in Gujarat and down in UP. The latter happened because of a consolidation in opposition votes

It is also difficult to say what the support levels were for BJP and Opposition before Pulwama attack