India's latest regional elections turned out to be a real nail-biter with implications for the entire country. As the dust settles, the results of Karnataka's state vote have left Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a little bit weaker and increased the chances that a unified opposition will challenge him in 2019. Although Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to make gains in the elections, it fell nine seats short of a majority in the regional assembly. As a result, it had the option either to try to form a coalition government with Janata Dal (Secular) — likely conceding Cabinet positions in the process — or to make an aggressive bid to persuade legislators to defect to the BJP. The BJP chose the latter approach, and Karnataka's governor swore in a BJP government before the party could demonstrate it had the necessary number of seats.