Our poltical system is quasi federal. The functions of Union and states are distinct. Hence assembly elections are unrelated to UPA performance at center.

However, issues in states often get mixed up with national issues. Let us see whether the results in assembly elections really reflect peoples' opinion on center.

Let us go state by state. Assam has elected Congress Government the third time. This may be considered endorsement of UPA piolicies. However, congress victory is really peoples' endorsement of the state government efforts to combat terrorism and influx of Bangla Desh refugees. As UPA government contributed to success of the state government, the election can be considered partly as endorsement of UPA policies in the center.

As regards West Bengal, the verdict has no relation with UPA policies. The Left front was ruling for more than three decades. People just wanted 'Paribortan' (change) so as to get a taste of Non Left rule. There has never been so long a tenure of any government elected in a parliamentary system. Obviously, the election results depict only local conditions and aspirations and do not reflect or endorse UPA policies. Here major UPA party, congress is only 'B" team of Trinmool congress. Ironically, Mamata Banerjee has been consistently dubbing Congress as B team of Left front.

As regards Kerala, there is razor thin majority for UDF led by congress. CPI(M) continues as largest single party. So, these elections reflect neither UPA policies endorsement nor dissatisfaction with left front.

In Tamilnadu, Congress was junior partner of DMK, leader of alliance. The DMK alliance lost because of corruption charges against UPA ministers at center. Thus the election results definitely express peoples' anger against UPA Corrupt government led by Congress and including DMK as a major partner.

The Pudducherry results depict local conditions only and have nothing to do with UPA policies.

To sum up, assembly elections in West Bengal,Kerala and Pudducherry. do not reflect peoples' oipinion on UPA either for and against. The Assam elections partly endorse UPA government policies. The Tamilnadu elections express deep anger against UPA.

National issues do not matter in state assembly elections unless the key contestants are major national level parties namely Congress and BJP. In the recently concluded elections, BJP was insignificant. Congress was key player in Assam and Kerala and a junior partner to regional outfits at other places. Hence, in absence of national issues emenating from absence of BJP in all the five states, the results cannot be said to be either an endorsement or rejection of UPA. However, the Tamilnadu elections are rejection of UPA corrupt government since the major ally or congress was DMK involved in 2G scam.

The peculiarities of these assembly polls is that the states are on extreme borders. Kerala, Tamilnadu, West Bengal and Assam are on southern, Eastern and North Eastern Borders. All these states are more affected by local conditions than national politics. On the other hand, the states of U.P., Bihar, Delhi, Haryama, Madhya Pradesh- Hindi or cow belt region, are more affected by national politics.

This aspect also needs consideration while answering whether results of these elections are endorsement of UPA policies. It can be said without fear of contradiction that these assembly polls have little or no relation with UPA policies. However, Tamilnadu is an exception. The corrupt practices of DMK ministers at the center brought disrepute to the party and thus election was lost.

UPA that is based specifically on some core policies that has been advertised heavily for example the CMP ie the common minimum program that promises in general;a transparent,corruption free government.It emphasizes to be a government that would give in employment opportunities and would strive to work for welfare of people.

The sound of these policies only puts the UPA in a tighter spot after a tough year of scam exposures and especially when the major ruling party was unable to curb in inflation and so many other problems ( unemployment,recession for example}

Coming to the topic, peoples opinions are really the key to the results displayed,but for the UPA alone,I believe this can't be true.There are many facets to this,as mentioned above correctly by Gulshanji, that Mamta's win is basically because of change from the longest rule they had,Jaylalitha's win might be because of the scams and corruption with the then current party people were tired about,Assam's win was basically because of Himanta.

People played a key role of leadership for the parties they had and not just for the UPA,that is what I feel.Will the UPA get the benefit, yes of course it will.But its just like a matter of chance,because the UPA as a complete alliance has no credits to harp on.

We have already discussed that constitutionally, state assembly elections are distinct from center. It is also agreed that the elections were mainly contested on local issues and were more a verdict on state ruling alliances. Moreover, national policy matters were not even discussed in election campaigns. Thus, we may conclude that these elections do not support or oppose the Congress led UPA policies.

I agree.There has been a mixed reaction from the peoples side for the alliance.The alliance wins three states but loses Tamil Nadu on account of the obvious.No one was against or in favor,but people wanted to change the current situation they were in.This is definitely not a favorable thing for the Congress led UPA as now they have to prove their merit in the coming year.
To build an image after the exposure of scams and the loss of a strong state,we can safely say its neither for or against the UPA as of now.

This GD also had become a dialogue.Why the members are keeping away from GDs?

As the discussion is very poor I am extending the GD for one more week.THe GD is extended upto May 28th.

I have given my views and also wrote concluding post. So, I shall give any further response only if the discussion is further advanced by others.

Since the topic points out on what peoples opinions are; I believe that people are demanding answers and are aware thanks to media and social work group intervening.

Its also the people's opinion now that "factor of leadership" matters.As mentioned in the discussion above correctly that the states attributes vary culturally and emotionally as well.

According to the economic times,many voters claim that the dynastic rule has to end at some places and local leaders should be brought up.

And back to the topic,the elections are a mirror to the peoples opinions,but for UPA its neither in favour nor opposing it.I believe people are now wanting to see what will the alliance achieve and then voice out the actual reaction.