After athumping victory in a mucky presidential election in April, and his party's equally resounding success in last year's parliamentary poll, these excuses have worn out.
"The game started long before we threw the first throw, " he said, after giving me a"thumping, " to use President Bush's description of his party's election defeat.
But like India's ruling Congress party, with which it has long-standing friendly ties, the League has athumping majority and four years until an election.