The state Assembly election results of Maharashtra and Haryana have brought to the fore the angst, desperation and helplessness of People Like Us, or PLUs, a category comprising citizens who belong to the English-speaking professional middle class and are steadfastly opposed to Hindutva's illiberal agenda. Instead of slipping into depression, as had happened after the 2019 Lok Sabha election, PLUs cheered the Assembly election results even though the Bharatiya Janata Party will still rule the two states for another five years.

PLUs were chuffed over election results largely because the BJP fell far below its own boast and did not perform anywhere near their paranoia. PLUs' paranoia stemmed from the BJP's trumpeting that it would bag 225 seats in Maharashtra and over 75 in Haryana. They believed the BJP, not least because its prediction was dutifully echoed by the media.