India, Oct. 29 -- Among the many election cycles that populate India's democracy, those for picking members for the bicameral state legislatures must count as the most chaotic and least instructive. These chambers have limited powers and are used by political parties to accommodate senior leaders not picked for more lucrative positions. The electorates are not very big, the campaign is dominated by political machinations, and the candidates are often entrenched figures. Since these elections are often decided by local factors and personal equations, their results cannot predict long-term trends. But, taking place in some of India's most politically important states, the latest round throws up key questions.

In poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, t...