The fabled power of anti-incumbency was expected to pose a challenge to Narendra Modi's governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the world's largest local election - 150 million voters spread over more than 400 seats - in India's northern Uttar Pradesh or UP state. After all, no party had managed to retain its majority in the state's legislative assembly since 1985. The average tenure of a chief minister during a five-year-term in this politically volatile state has been two years and 19 days. No incumbent chief minister has ruled UP for two successive terms since 1947. Mr Modi's party and...