What the MLC elections do and do not tell us

Discussions highlight too much emphasis being given to the recent elections to the Legislative Councils (MLC elections) across States. Even if a party swept the elections or got completely wiped out, it does not indicate that it is either losing or gaining the popular support of the people. This is because the voters in these elections are only a section of voters different from the general and Assembly elections being conducted.

That is only a part of the electorate that decides an Assembly contest in a State with more than seven crore registered voters. Across Uttar Pradesh, 11 constituencies went to polls while Bihar saw eight seats up for grabs, Maharashtra and Karnataka recorded five and four constituencies respectively went to polls.