Elections in UttarAkhand state

Our state recently held parliamentary elections in which the ruling National Democratic Alliance lost significantly, apparently due to inflation worries and anti-incumbency feeling. This was despite some rather blatant pandering – they even changed the name of the state from UttarAnchal to UttarAkhand, a more Hindu-traditional name. In a more generic attempt to appease the middle-class, the ruling party announced a reduction in the price of gasoline, a week before the election! Gas prices are fixed by the national government, with gas, diesel, LPG and kerosene prices all controlled. The prices are supposedly subsidized, though regular gasoline now costs $4.50/gallon; and that is at direct exchange rates (As we have noted before, lower average salaries make this doubly expensive compared to the U.S.)!
Just as in the U.S., one touchstone of electoral politics is the price of gasoline.
The two main political parties are the NDA and the BJP, roughly equivalent to our Democratic and Republican parties, respectively.
Democracy is vibrant in this country, though politicians are quite under-esteemed, because of the remnants of the patronage of the old socialist economy and widespread cronyism and corruption. Interestingly, the judicial system, and more specifically, the supreme court of each state, has become the most respected institution. And the Electoral Commissions of each state are seen as defenders of democracy, with surprisingly effective powers. The campaign poster shown here is for an independent candidate in Mussoorie. He lost, to the NDA candidate.