Mainstream WeeklyFIVE INDIAN STATES go to the hustings in April 2026, amidst a huge tussle going on between federalism and unitarianism. This makes these assembly elections crucial to the survival of our constitutionally mandated federal structure. Election watchers need to also keep in mind that these will be the last assembly elections with existing population numbers, assembly seats will be re-determined after the next census. Populations of southern States will be much lesser than the northern States, which will for their next assembly and parliament elections, have huge increase in both assembly and Lok Sabha seats.
A Carnegie Endowment study in 2019 highlighted a major shift in political power, predicting that northern Hindi-belt States would see a massive increase in seats, while