@ Jana
Just FYI, even at the height of its power BJP could get only 22% of popular vote while Congress got 27% and still coudn't form the govt. The problem is this was more of an anti-Congress vote by most people and even muslims voted for BJP under Vajpayee
This is the nature of parliamentary democracy and first past the post system. BJP can do well because most of the votes are divided among other secular parties.
If the recent election results doesn't show how much influence Hindu extremists have over mainstream society, then I don't what else will. Just to give you an example, after the Ayodhya demolition by VHP activists (who came mainly from outside the town), the sadhus and sants and other Hindu leaders got the district administrator to ban VHP activists from entering Ayodhya again. BJP never won from this constituency again after that till now.