Left turn

摘要

In india as elsewhere, all politics is local. In its federal system, elections for the legislative assemblies of its constituent states have no direct impact on the make-up of the central government. But central policies are often influenced by these campaigns, and the results play a big part in determining the political strength of the parties in Delhi. So there was enormous interest in the outcomes, declared on May 11th, of the elections for four state assemblies (Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal) and one small "union territory" (Pondicherry). A by-election in the parliamentary constituency of Rae Bareli in the state of Uttar Pradesh also caused a stir, because it involved Sonia Gandhi, leader of the ruling Congress party.