Six decades of election data shed light on the hollowing out of political representation in India.

The caste analysis of candidates provides insight into how parties read the electorate. Both the Congress and BJP have adapted their strategies to a new reading of politics in Gujarat, although not necessarily in the ways that the election campaign and media coverage would suggest.

Revolving-door practices between the Congress and the BJP, facilitated by a lack of ideological or programmatic differentiation between the parties, are particularly prominent in Gujarat and undermine the idea of a principled opposition.

The Bahujan Samaj Party may benefit from some reverse polarization and some Dalit/Muslim solidarity.

Crime data on legislators and electoral candidates in India must be carefully unpacked.

The shrinking numbers of Muslims in the Indian Parliament is not new. But 2014 results are unprecedented.