In God I trust, all else bring data

A manager I admire prominently displays on his desk a sign reading, “In God I trust, all else bring data”.  I have greater admiration for authors of data-driven political analysis, which is difficult to find in Indian newspapers and magazines despite the fact that it is now well-entrenched in the design and implementation of electoral campaigns in India.  Yogendra Yadav, however, is an exception.  Here is his most recent piece, which bothers me because the BJP continues to be “comfortable in the saffron belt”.  The only comforting thought is that it ain’t enough to return to power.