Atlast the month long assembly election process is over and the results will be out on 8th December. Currently the score card in the four highprofile states situated in the Hindi heartland - and where the fight is directly between Congress and the BJP - is 3:1 in BJPs favour. Before Mumbai, the Congress was fairly confident of reversing this score in its favour.

However, now the party say it is only confident of winning Rajasthan and feels that Delhi is `touch and go'. The other two, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh have more or less been written off in favour of the BJP. But the ballot box is full of surpsises and come judgement day, anything may happen. Here is a quick guide to interpret the results:

If the BJP wins all four states: It is curtain call for the Congress while this will fuel hopes for a BJP government at the centre. It also means that all the jargon about hindu terror and hindutva works.

If the score is two all : The Congress will declare this as a victory and this will greatly improve morale within the party. A note of caution, whichever state gets Delhi will be more upbeat about the general elections.

If the Congress wins three states: Then Mumbai had no effect and its local factors that came into play. A resurgent and relieved Congress may then toy with the idea of calling general elections earlier than scheduled, possibly in Febuary.

If the Congress wins all four : Not even the most optimistic Congressman is visualising this scenario in his wildest of dreams.