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Indian Politics Essay

Essay on Indian Politics

In the given below Indian politics essay, one can read all about the Indian political system, it's functioning, and the problems faced by it. For India, political scenarios and events play an important role.

The Various Shades of Indian Politics

India is the largest democracy in the world. Almost 1 out of every 6 humans in the world is an Indian. With such an enormous and diverse population, there are a number of political ideologies and political parties which are present and functioning all over the country. The constitution of India gives the right to every citizen of the country to form political parties and contest elections in the country. Although, Politics in India is not only limited to just political parties but has become central to all walks of life among everyone. Politics is said to be the art of influencing the will of the state. We have seen various pressure groups, advocacy groups, interests groups, etc which work in tandem with the political organizations. The work of the political parties is not just limited to winning elections, but it is the duty of every citizen of the country to ensure that our representatives remain responsive to the demand of the people and fulfill their electoral promises.

Political parties in India are generally of two major categories, these are National Parties and Regional parties. The National parties are those political organizations that have a substantial presence in most parts of the country while the Regional parties are those parties that are limited to just one state or a few states where they have some influence. The regional parties are generally formed on the lines of language as the states in India have been organized on the basis of language. The various political interest groups work along with these political parties to lobby for their interest and make sure that the issues which are of concern to the common people are brought to the attention of our leaders. The Media also plays a very vital role in the functioning of a democracy and has been recognized as the fourth pillar of a democracy.

Long Essay on Indian Politics

The functioning of the political system is crucial for the smooth development of any country. India is no different. From being the largest democracy in the world and having the Prime Minister as the supreme leader of the country, Indian politics has its own charisma. In the given below Indian politics essay, one can read all about the Indian political system, it's functioning, and the problems faced by it. For India, political scenarios and events play an important role.

Through this essay on Indian politics, one can get enlightened about working in the country's political system. The entire country revolves around the Indian political system. Every decision and law is taken into account for the development of the country.

An Indian politician is somebody who is elected from his/her constituency. Every politician has their constituency from where they are elected. They then actively delve into politics. Since independence, India has strived forward thanks to the laws implemented by politicians. Indians can take pride in the fact that they are the largest democracy in the world. The PM or prime minister heads the country. He is the head of the government formed at the center. Likewise, the president is head of the central and the state government.

The Indian parliament consists of the upper and lower house. The upper house is known as the Rajya Sabha and the lower house is called the Lok Sabha. The upper house consists of members who represent the states of the country. The lower house consists of members elected to represent the people of the country. The Supreme Court or SC is the protector of the constitution of India. Indian politics comprises three pillars that consist of the central leadership, state leadership, and the village or panchayat raj. The panchayat ray is still prominent in several villages and most rural parts of the country. Thanks to the 73rd constitutional amendment, local governance is acceptable. India is a democratic country where the leaders are elected through elections held once in four years.

The party with the largest vote bank after the election can claim their victory. To vote in India, one must be an Indian citizen, and above 18 years of age. They need to obtain an election card. Anybody can contest in the elections in India. The individual should be an Indian citizen and have completed 25 years of age. Additionally, there are a few more conditions to be met that most candidates become eligible for. In India, there are no criteria for contesting elections. Hence, it is not surprising to note that many legislators have little to no education. One can use NOTA when they feel that their constituent candidate is not well-educated or is worthy of the position.

In this paragraph on Indian politics, one learns about the lack of educational qualifications for the politicians. In most of the developed and developing countries, the politicians are an educated lot. Education and corruption cannot go hand in hand. The opposition needs to be proactive and take a tough stance on the ruling of the government. The country's few significant parties include BJP, Indian National Congress, CPI, AAP, BSP, and the SP.

It is safe to say that the political scenario can be changed for the greater good of the country and society.

Short Essay on Indian Politics

The information given below is suitable for the Indian politics essay 10th class syllabus. Students can make use of it during their examinations. In this short essay on Indian politics, one can read about the nuances of Indian politics.

Indian politics is compared to a great circus where different political parties fight till the end. Most of the elections are marred by corruption on a large scale. Sadly, the country's political climate decides on the communal, social, and economic condition of the country. In this paragraph on Indian politics, one finds out that when the political situation is unstable, then it gives rise to unwanted problems like civil wars and revolutions, as seen in Libya, Syria, and Egypt.

Indian politics has seen it all, right from the birth of the two single largest parties in India, the partition, emergency period, India-Bangladesh war, and the terror attacks. It is a colorful game indeed with plenty of good and bad happening side-by-side. One can hope that India progresses and matures with time. Hopefully, it will be for the greater good and development of the nation. The essay about Indian politics has shown that the freedom of choosing the kind of ideology one wants to take itself lies in Indian democracy.

Conclusion

To conclude the Indian politics essay in English, the Indian political scenario has seen it all. Rulers of dynamic capabilities and charismatic character have taken over the realms of the country.

Likes of Jawaharlal Nehru and Narendra Modi have adorned the coveted position of this country, which is a moment of pride for any Indian.

FAQs on Indian Politics Essay

1. What can one learn from the essay on Indian Politics?

The Indian politics essay reveals the existing Indian political system in the country. It is similar to a game of snake and ladders. Friends become one's enemies, and sworn enemies share the dais during election rallies.

It is becoming a common sight today. Indians can be proud of the fact that they are the largest democracy existing in the world. In Indian politics, the prime minister is the head, and power is equally divided between the central and state governments.

2. Does it help Indian Politics in electing educated ministers?

The main issue plaguing the Indian political system is the lack of education. Even ministers occupying senior positions in the country are devoid of quality education. One can blame the lack of criteria when electing the minister.

This has been going on for decades, and quick changes must be imminent for the betterment of the country. It would help in routing problems like corruption that is the root cause of all issues in the country.

3. What is Politics?

Politics is a very wide subject that does not have one definite answer, for most people it is about winning elections and getting the key to state power. However, according to one of the widely accepted definitions, Politics is the art of influencing the will of the state, which means that not only the political parties and the politicians but every citizen has an active role to play in the politics of this country.

4. Which is a democracy?

According to the famous definition given by Abraham Lincoln, Democracy is a form of government that is for the people, by the people, and of the people. This is good to give a basic sense of the idea of democracy but in the more general sense, it is people deciding what is good for them and taking an active part in the decision-making process of the country.

5. What is the difference between a democracy and a republic?

Democracy is the form of government in which it is considered that the people will be deciding how to govern themselves. While in a Republic, the people give the franchise of their mandate to a selected candidate who represents them in the seat of governance. So the Republic is the enshrinement of the will of the people into a system that selects the people who govern them while democracy makes them responsive to the people who vote for them.

6. How can the write ups along with important questions for Indian Politics be downloaded from Vedantu?

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You can avail all the well-researched and good quality chapters, sample papers, syllabus on various topics from the website of Vedantu and its mobile application available on the play store.

7. What is the importance of elections in Indian democracy?

Elections play a very vital role in any functioning democracy in the world. Elections are the litmus test on how democracy has been working because without a free and fair election process, No true democracy can survive and if the election process is not free and fair then the belief of people will turn away from democratic politics. However, elections should not be seen as the endgame of democracy as a public partition in the development process must be ensured to keep democracy vibrant.

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Democracy In India Essay

Democracy is regarded as the best type of government since it allows citizens to directly elect their leaders. They have access to a number of rights that are fundamental to anyone's ability to live freely and peacefully. There are many democratic countries in the world, but India is by far the biggest. Here are a few sample essays on the topic ‘Democracy In India’.

100 Words Essay On Democracy

200 words essay on democracy, 500 words essay on democracy.

Democracy is a term used to describe a form of government in which the people have a voice by voting. Democracy is an essential part of any society, and India is no exception. After years of suffering under British colonial control, India attained democracy in 1947. India places a great emphasis on democracy. India is also without a doubt the largest democracy in the world.

The spirit of justice, liberty, and equality has permeated Indian democracy ever since the country attained independence. As the world’s largest democracy, India has been a shining example of how democracy can foster progress and ensure rights for all its citizens.

In a democracy, the people have the ultimate say in how their government is run. They elect representatives to represent them in government, and they can hold those representatives accountable through regular elections. And finally, the rule of law is important in a democracy to ensure that everyone is treated equally before the law and that the government operates within its proper bounds. Democracy has been a recent phenomena in human history, only really taking root in the last few centuries. But it has quickly become one of the most popular forms of government around the world. India is one of the world’s largest democracies, with over 1 billion people living within its borders.

India's constitution serves as the foundation for its democracy. The Indian Constitution guarantees equality for all citizens regardless of caste, creed, or religion. It also establishes a system of representative government, with elected officials at the national, state, and local levels. And finally, it enshrines the rule of law by establishing an independent judiciary to interpret and uphold the Constitution.

There are many different types of democracy, but most modern democracies are based on the principles of popular sovereignty, representative government, and rule of law and public opinion.

There are two main types of democracies—direct and representative. Direct democracy allows citizens to participate directly in the decision-making process, while representative democracy allows citizens to elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. The advantages of democracy in India include the fact that it allows for greater participation of citizens in the political process, and it also provides checks and balances on the government. The disadvantages of democracy in India include the fact that it can be slow to make decisions and that it can be difficult to hold people accountable for their actions.

Features Of Indian Democracy

Sovereignty | One important aspect of Indian democracy is sovereignty. The absolute control a governing body has over itself without external influence is referred to as sovereignty. In India's democracy, people can also exert their power. The fact that Indians choose their representatives is remarkable. Furthermore, these officials continue to be accountable to the general public.

Political Equality | It is the foundation of Indian democracy. It also simply means that everyone is treated equally under the law. The fact that there is no discrimination based on caste, religion, race, creed, or sect is particularly notable. As a result, all Indian citizens have equal political rights.

Rule Of Majority | A key component of Indian democracy is the rule of the majority. Furthermore, the winning party creates and governs the government. In addition, the party with the most seats creates and governs the country. Most importantly, no one can object to majority support.

Socialist | Being socialist implies that the country continuously prioritises the needs of its citizens. The poor person should be offered numerous incentives, and their fundamental needs should be met by any means necessary.

Secular | There is no such thing as a "state religion," and there is no discrimination based on religion in this nation. In the eyes of the law, all religions must be equal; it is not acceptable to discriminate against anyone based on their religion. Everyone has the right to practise and spread any religion, and they are free to do so at any moment.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Democracy In India

There are many advantages and disadvantages of democracy in India. On the one hand, democracy gives everyone an equal say in how the country is run. This is particularly important in a country as large and diverse as India. On the other hand, democracy can also be slow and chaotic, and it can be difficult to get things done. One advantage of democracy in India is that it ensures that everyone has a say in how the country is run. This is especially important in a country as large and diverse as India.

There are many different languages spoken in India, and democracy ensures that everyone has a voice. Another advantage of democracy in India is that it leads to more stability than other forms of government. In a dictatorship, for example, one person has all the power. This can lead to them making decisions that are not in the best interests of the country. In a democracy, there are checks and balances in place so that no one person has too much power.

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The Indian Political Parties Research Paper

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Introduction

India — overview of the country and its politics, multi-party system, political parties in india, population diversity and the party system dilemma, the idea of democracy in relation to political parties, works cited.

The system of political parties underwent drastic changes since the country gained its independence and became a democratic republic. The old parties transformed in their modern versions while plenty of new parties appeared as well. The dilemma in the multi-party system is caused by the caste system and population diversity.

The Republic of India is a seventh largest country in the world by its geographical borders and the second most populated country (“India Country Profile — Overview”, 2015, par. 1). The population of the country comprises more than one billion people. India is also known for being the most populated democracy in the world (“India Country Profile — Overview”, 2015, par. 2). The country is newly industrialized. Despite its economic flourishing, it stills faces the urgent problems of poverty, malnutrition, terrorism, and improper governance (“India Country Profile — Overview”, 2015, par. 4).

India is a federal parliamentary constitutional republic with Pranab Mukherjee being a current president. The President is the head of the state while the Prime Minister is the head of the government (“Types of Governments”, n.d., par. 1). The Constitution is the primary law of the country that defines all regulations.

Currently, India has a multi-party system. There are numerous national and regional political parties. A local party has the authority in one particular state. A party should represent at least four different states to become national (“Types of Governments”, n.d., par. 1). The primary mission of all political parties is to serve and protect interests of the nation in various aspects.

A political party is an organized group of people who share the same political opinion and follow the common aim in the controlling of the country (Hofmeister and Grabow, 2011, 8). The most important function of every party is to represent the interests of the citizens among the political elite.

Besides, political parties handle the achievement of better economic, political, educational, and other prospects of the country (Hofmeister and Grabow, 2011, 15). A multi-party system is the final type of party system in the country. In this kind of the system, several parties exist in the government, and none of them receives the majority of seats. Some dominance is usually achieved with the help of coalitions (Hofmeister and Grabow, 2011, 8).

The multi-party system has both advantages and disadvantages. The first plus refers to the fact that voters have many options (Caramani, 2014, 224-225). A variety of political parties presupposes the numerous political principles. As a result, the citizen can find the party that meets his or her personal opinions (Barrington, 2012, 264). The second advantage relates to increasing chances to represent the interests of different minorities more effectively.

The third positive reason — fewer chances of the development of dictatorship (Barrington, 2012, 264-265). Nevertheless, the multi-party system has several disadvantages as well. First, no party can receive the majority of seats in the multi-party system. Consequently, the coalition is the must in such a situation. Different parties have to join their votes to form alliances (Caramani, 2014, 224-225). These coalitions are fragile and unstable, and it impedes the general political environment in the country.

Second, small extreme parties often become significant constituents of the government. Extreme parties face no difficulty in gaining the necessary amount of votes (Barrington, 2012, 264). Then, some other major party may need their votes to form the coalition. In such a way, extreme parties may rule the country. Finally, the excessive variety of political parties leads to the disparities of interests and activities (Barrington, 2012, 264-265).

Historical background of the development of the multi-party system

The party system in India has changed drastically in the last two decades. Politicization of people from less privileged groups of society became the most significant change in the current system. The nature of the relationship between country and its citizens has also altered (Kesalu, 2013, 56-57). It is necessary to have an insight into the evolution of the Indian party system in pre and post-independence years.

The party system of India commences with the formation of the Indian National Congress in 1882. The Congress became popular among people as far as it represented the interests of the indigenous population and became the primary opposing force to the British imperialism (Rana, 2014, par. 3). The political activity of the Congress during the pre-independence period should be divided into three stages.

The first period (1885-1905) was characterized by the privileged dominance of the Congress. The next phase occurred since 1905 until 1916 (Kesalu, 2013, 58-59). The opinions between political representatives became diverse. Some of them believed that the country would gain independence through persuasion while others were intended to fight for their rights.

During the third stage (1916-1945), the Indian Independence Movement took place (Kesalu, 2013, 58-59). As a result, the British governor and General of India announced the separation of the British India into India and Pakistan. On August 15 in 1947, the Indian Independence Act was signed (Kesalu, 2013, 59).

Since that time, the Indian post-independence era began. The Congress became the leading political party due to its active participation in the independence movement (Kesalu, 2013, 59). Nevertheless, many political parties had already existed in the country. They comprised four major political groups that were interested in the gaining of votes in the first general election. The first group included the Congress, the Socialist Party, and Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party.

Marxist parties and the Communist Party of India represented the second group (Kesalu, 2013, 60). Religious, political parties formed the third group. They were Bharatiya Jan Sangh (BJS), Ram Rajya Parishad, and Hindu Mahasabha. Regional parties like Akali Dal, Jharkhand party, and Tamilnadu Congress formed the fourth group. Despite this variety, the Congress became the dominant political party and remained its domination until 1967 (Kesalu, 2013, 60).

In 1967, the fourth general election showed that the Congress’s authority declined. The regional parties popularized the idea of the decentralization of power. Congress’ organizational abilities were weak, and citizens lost trust in it (Kesalu, 2013, 60). In 1980, numerous parties appeared. Bharatiya Janata Party was established in 1980.

The activity of BJP made it the principal rival of the Congress. More often large parties were divided into smaller regional representatives. The coalition era began in 1989 (Kesalu, 2013, 60-61). The democratization of the society led to the increasing formation of various political parties that formed a unique diversity of the Indian multi-party system. All these parties represented interests of different ethnic, social, and religious groups.

Current typology of political parties

There are almost one thousand registered political parties in India and 50 of them have the status of National or State parties (Dutt, 2006, 62). All national and state parties are recognized while other parties are known as not recognized. It also should be noted, that there are two houses of parliament in India. Rajya Sabha or the Upper House serves the interests of the separate states. Lok Sabha or the Lower House is formed to monitor and fulfill the needs of all people on the national level (Dutt, 2006, 51).

There are six recognized national parties. They are Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian National Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Bahujan Samai Party, and National Congress Party (Dutt, 2006, 62). Almost fifty parties are State parties.

Some of them are All India Forward Bloc, Indian Union Muslim League, Sikkim Democratic Front, Zoram Nationalist Party and others. There are also unrecognized parties that affect the politics in India to some extent — Lok Satta Party, Manipur Peoples Party, Jana Sena Party, and many others (Dutt, 2006, 62-65).

The caste system as the factor that impedes Indian multi-party system

The role of castes is a significant factor that predetermines the functioning of the multi-party system. There are more than three thousand castes in India. Their number varies in different regions (Shan, 2004, 5). In general, they are divided into four groups. They are the learned people, the warriors, agriculturalists and traders, and those who serve (“The Caste System”, n.d., par. 5). Castes are hereditary. It means that one belongs to the high or low caste since birth.

The Indian Constitution abolishes the caste system. Despite this fact, every political party makes use of the caste system. This tradition has a long history, and that is why it is deeply rooted in all aspects of social and political life (“The Caste System”, n.d., par. 10). No sphere limits the impact of caste. In the political life, it commences with the electoral process.

For instance, the Communist Party of India always chooses the representative from the most influential caste as the candidate for elections (Gulabsingh and Palekar, 2014, 2). The problem is that the most prominent representative is not always the most capable person in the party. Such an individual is interested in his caste enrichment. Thus, such an approach to choosing candidates is one of the factors that comprise the dilemma in the party system.

Gulabsingh and Palekar (2014) also write that “when a ministry is formed in the State or at the Centre, caste considerations are always kept in mind. Every chief minister tries to ensure that all dominant castes in the State are adequately represented in his council of ministers” (2). This fact also exemplifies the injustice in the multi-party system.

Sub-castes are also known as “jati”. They represent smaller localized groups within the particular large caste (Johnson and Johnson, n.d., par. 1-3). They are essential for receiving the needed minority of votes by the party.

The candidate from the sub-caste knows the primary concern of people, their problems, desires, traditions, and ways of life. It is easy to use all this information to create a campaign that will attract the attention of the target group. Parties can create distinct banners or advertisements that reflect the interests of this or that group and gain the favor of the voters.

Another crucial aspect that affects Indian party system is the great diversity of the population. When there are many representatives from various social and ethnic groups, there is an immense number of interests. This situation is directly connected to the multi-party system. However, it is necessary to examine the dilemma of the multi-party system through the several perspectives of diversity.

Indian political culture and its manifestation through multi-party system

The population is divided into elite and masses (Hoveyda, 2010, 14). These two groups participate in the political process and represents different types of political culture. These kinds of political culture enhance the divergence of opinion within the party system as well. Indian political culture is heterogeneous.

It is divided into the elite culture and mass culture. Hoveyda (2010) writes that “elites are associated with liberal education and related values, institutions of the representative government and values of citizenship; while the masses are viewed as traditional, regional and conservative, though also oriented towards modern values and institutions” (15). There are differences between elite culture and mass culture that impede the successful development of the country.

Military and civil bureaucracy, educated intelligentsia, and political leaders comprise the elite political culture. Mass culture consists of traditional castes, and it is more interested in the local and regional levels of governance (Hoveyda, 2010, 15-16). Mass culture became widely spread due to the processes of democratization and the policy of power decentralization. These aspects increased the level of involvement of people from various social strata in the governmental activities.

On the one hand, the formation of political parties by different people was a good sign of democracy and the efficient implementation of the multi-party system. On the contrary, it increased the inequality between people. Thus, those who belonged to wealthy castes could become involved in politics and increase their status and financial resources while others remained in the same disadvantageous position (Hoveyda, 2010, 16).

One more distinctive feature of mass political culture refers to the dominance of caste, religious, provincial, and linguistic factors. All these features of mass culture differ it from the elite culture. Consequently, their goals are not the same and cannot be achieved with the help of each other.

Thus, the elite political culture emphasizes the significance of developing the country on the national and global level (Hoveyda, 2010, 16-17). Such a plan includes the formation of the advanced infrastructure system, the representation of state schemes, and economic growth. The mass political culture needs support in the form of subsidized services, water, or electricity (Hoveyda, 2010, 16-17).

It is obvious that political orientations of the elite and mass political cultures are far from being the same. Some voters are more interested in having enough water. That is why they will vote for parties from the mass political culture. Other people realize the necessity to develop the overall economy of the country.

In this case, they will vote for parties from the elite political culture. What is more significant, the parties themselves are not ready to achieve any consensus. They focus only on their goals. The coalitions are not of great assistance in this case. Though parties combine their votes, it is still not enough for the political stability within the country (Hoveyda, 2010, 17).

Ethnic diversity and its relation to the dilemma

India is a home for representatives from many dissimilar religious, ethnic, and social classes of people. Such aspect as ethnicity can also shed the light on the problem of the country’s multi-party system. A particular attention should be paid to the notion of the political secularism.

The so-called “ethinification” of the party system means the intentional direction of political parties to receive support from the particular ethnic group (Huber and Suryanarayan, 2014, 5).

Elites can use ethnicity as a target to attract as many voters as possible and form the necessary coalition. Such schemes work well in countries where it is challenging to receive the majority of seats by one party (Huber and Suryanarayan, 2014, 2). It is obvious that such plan is of great advantage for Indian political parties. Religious beliefs are significant constituents that comprise the ethnicity of every individual in the country.

Hinduism is the most widespread religion in India (Ghosh, 2015, par. 2). More than eighty percent of all population in India are Hindus. Muslims comprise ten percent while Christianity — almost three percent (Ghosh, 2015, par. 2). The primary problem with Hinduism refers to the fact that there is no universal religion. People from different religious minorities proclaim themselves Hindus. There are Hindu and Muslim political parties in the country (Ghosh, 2015, par. 5).

The key concern between them has a religious background. The Bharatiya Janata Party is the largest party that directly demonstrates its Hindus roots and follows the policy of the Hindu nationalism (Dutt, 2006, 62). The results of elections prove the religion-based politics. It has been found out that only a few votes for the BJP are observed in regions where the Muslim population is prevailing.

Secularism has become a popular trend in many Western societies. The idea of separation the government from the religious organizations became widespread due to several reasons Maclure and Taylor, 2011, 11-12). First, the Church can impede the scientific progress and forbid to conduct particular types of researches. Second, the necessity to be under the patronage of the church does not appeal to many individuals.

Consequently, the religion got detached and became a private affair of everyone (Maclure and Taylor, 2011, 11). The role of religion in the Indian society should not be underestimated. No secularist tendencies take place in the country due to the significance of worship. Faith has always been a prominent stimulus for the national awakening. Thus, Gandhi inspired people with the idea of political freedom with the help of religious texts (Moradian and Whiteshouse, 2000, par. 20-25).

The idea of democracy in India is a controversial issue. The country proclaims itself the largest democracy in the world. The concept of democracy is interconnected with the activity of political parties in India. Political parties are often regarded as both “heroes and villains of the country’s democratic experiment” (Diamond and Gunther, 2001, 206). All citizens of India strongly support the idea of democracy. Nevertheless, the democracy is still more like an illusion rather than the reality in the country.

It is also worthwhile mentioning the research conducted by Rudolph and Rudolph. The authors investigate the new dimensions of Indian democracy since the 1990s. They have pointed out five primary aspects that reflect the achievement of justice in the Indian society. The issues that are related to political parties include the modification of the party system, the rise of states, and the coalition government. India has a federal system that assists in maintaining peaceful coexistence of people from various ethnic and cultural groups.

The federal system of India can be compared to the European Union countries rather that to the U.S.’s states (Rudolph and Rudolph, 2002, 53-54). This statement is proved by the fact that there are particular correspondences between them. The residents of England and Italy, for instance, as well as Hindu and Tamils speak different languages and share some history.

They have different socioeconomic profiles and various cultural heritage (Rudolph and Rudolph, 2002, 54). Considering all these factors, both India and European Union promote peaceful living among the residents of states.

The transformation into the multi-party was the second manifestation of the Indian democracy. The end of the ruling of one dominant party symbolized the appearance of new features of the country (Rudolph and Rudolph, 2002, 54-55). As a result, people from all social classes, ethnic, and religious groups became able to form the political parties and represent the interests of their minorities.

The third representation of democracy refers to the establishment of the coalition government (Rudolph and Rudolph, 2002, 55). Coalitions are inevitable in the country where the number of political parties makes it impossible to gain the majority of seats by one particular party. Thus, parties unite to become more valuable and possess more power. Besides, the aim of every coalition government is to reduce the risks of extremism (Rudolph and Rudolph, 2002, 55).

For instance, BJP commenced its political activity as the party whose primary concern was Hindu nationalism. Due to the lack of power, the party had to look for partners. One secular party from South India became the partner of BJP and, in such a way decreased the possibility of the excessive concentration on Hindu nationalism issues (Rudolph and Rudolph, 2002, 55-56).

The country experienced recent rapid economic growth. However, this growth has not influenced the standard of living of people. Residents of India are destitute. The general income per capita is below the threshold (“Effects of Poverty in India: Between Injustice and Exclusion”, 2013, par. 1). Such a situation resembles the features of the dictatorship but not of the democracy.

India has an immense number of ethnic minorities that have different languages, culture, traditions, and beliefs. Besides, the cases of inter-community violence are usual thing in India. People belong to different castes, and this is the major differentiator of the whole society until nowadays. Religious conflicts can occur as well. Also, the level of corruption in the country is not like it should be in democratic societies (Oldenburg, 2007, 5-7).

These distinctive characteristics of India explain the necessity to have the multi-party system. On the one hand, various political parties should represent such socio-cultural diversity. Otherwise, it will be impossible to take into account the interests of all people. Democracy presupposes the rule of masses through the representatives. The only possible option, in this case, is to employ a multi-party system (Oldenburg, 2007, 7).

On the other hand, there are many flaws in the system. The first problem refers to the fair play in the election. There are no evidence that elections are fair and not corrupted (Oldenburg, 2007, 7-8). Besides, many people in India are still illiterate or have the inadequate education. They cannot make profound decisions due to the lack of knowledge and ability to comprehend the situation. When the parties are already chosen, their promises, in most cases, remain just promises (Oldenburg, 2007, 8).

All these issues undermine the idea of democracy in the Indian multi-party system. Oldenburg has conducted research and examined that corruption in courts is a typical practice. For instance, many politicians are accused of participating in some illegal activity. Nevertheless, none of them was convicted in the commitment of the crime (Oldenburg, 2007, 9). Democracy is impossible in such conditions.

India is the second most populated country in the world with the most diverse society. The party system of the country has changed drastically since independence. India started as the country with one dominant party, the Indian National Congress, and gradually developed the multi-party system. Such a transformation of the government is a direct manifestation of the democratization.

However, such factors as the caste system and the population diversity influence the implementation of the multi-party system significantly. On the one hand, the multi-party system is the best option for the country with such diversity. On the contrary, the caste inequalities and ethnic diversity make it impossible to achieve any consensus among parties.

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Caramani, Daniele. Comparative Politics . Oxford: OUP, 2014. Print.

Diamond, Larry and Richard Gunther. Political Parties and Democracy . Baltimore: JHU Press, 2001. Print.

Dutt, Sagarika. India in a Globalized World . Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2006. Print.

Effects of Poverty in India: Between Injustice and Exclusion 2013.

Gulabsingh, Sandeep and Sana Palekar. “The Role of Caste in Indian Politics.” Research Directions 1.8 (2014): 1-3. Print.

Ghosh, Abantika. Census: Hindu Share Dips Below 80%, Muslims Share Grows but Slower . 2015.

Hofmeister, Wilhelm and Karsten Grabow. Political Parties . Singapore: Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, 2011. Print.

Hoveyda, Abbas. Indian Government and Politics . Delphi: Pearson Education India, 2010. Print.

Huber, John and Pavithra Suryanarayan. Ethnic Inequality and the Ethnification of the Political Parties: Evidence from India . 2014. PDF File.

India Country Profile — Overview 2015.

Johnson Donald and Jean Johnson. Jati: The Caste System in India . n.d.

Kesalu, Satri. “Genesis and Evaluation of Political Parties in India.” International Research Journal of Social Sciences 2.2 (2013): 56-62. Print.

Maclure, Jocelyn and Charles Taylor. Secularism and Freedom of Conscience . Harvard: Harvard University Press, 2011. Print.

Moradian, Meneejeh and David Whiteshouse. Gandhi and the Politics of Nonviolence . 2000.

Oldenburg, Philip. “India’s Democracy: Illusion or Reality?” Education About Asia 12.13 (2007): 5-11. Print.

Rana, Kamal. Growth of Party System in India . 2014.

Rudolph, Susanne and Lloyd Rudolph. “New Dimensions of Indian Democracy.” Journal of Democracy 13.1 (2002): 52-66. Print.

Shan, Ghanshyam. Caste and Democratic Politics in India . London: Anthem Press, 2004. Print.

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Essay on Democracy in India for Students and Children

500+ words essay on democracy in india.

Essay on Democracy in India – First of all, democracy refers to a system of government where the citizens exercise power by voting. Democracy holds a special place in India. Furthermore, India without a doubt is the biggest democracy in the world. Also, the democracy of India is derived from the constitution of India. After suffering at the hands of British colonial rule, India finally became a democratic nation in 1947 . Most noteworthy, Indian democracy since independence is infused with the spirit of justice, liberty, and equality.

Features of Indian Democracy

Sovereignty is a vital feature of Indian democracy. Sovereignty refers to the full power of a governing body over itself without outside interference. Moreover, people can exercise power in Indian democracy . Most noteworthy, people of India elect their representatives. Moreover, these representatives remain responsible for common people.

The democracy in India works on the principle of political equality. Furthermore, it essentially means all citizens are equal before the law. Most noteworthy, there is no discrimination on the basis of religion , caste, creed, race, sect, etc. Hence, every Indian citizen enjoys equal political rights.

Rule of the majority is an essential feature of Indian democracy. Moreover, the party which wins the most seats forms and runs the government. Most noteworthy, no-one can object to support of the majority.

Another feature of Indian democracy is federal. Most noteworthy, India is a union of states. Furthermore, the states are somewhat autonomous. Moreover, the states enjoy freedom in certain matters.

Collective responsibility is a notable feature of Indian democracy. The council of Ministers in India is collectively responsible to their respective legislatures. Therefore, no minister alone is responsible for any act of their government.

Indian democracy works on the principle of formation of opinion. Furthermore, the government and its institutions must work on the basis of public opinion. Most noteworthy, public opinion must be formed on various matters in India. Moreover, the Legislature of India provides an appropriate platform to express public opinion.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Ways to Strengthen Democracy in India

First of all, people must stop having a blind belief in the media. Many times the news reported by media is out of context and exaggerated. Most noteworthy, some media outlets may propagate the propaganda of a particular political party. Therefore, people must be careful and cautious when accepting media news.

Another important way to strengthen the Indian democracy is to reject the consumer mentality in elections. Several Indians view national elections like consumers buying a product. Most noteworthy, elections should make Indians feel like participants rather than separatists.

People in India should make their voices heard. Furthermore, people must try to communicate with their elected official all year-round instead of just during elections. Therefore, citizens must write, call, email, or attend community forums to communicate with their elected official. This would surely strengthen Indian democracy.

Huge voter turnouts is really an efficient way to strengthen democracy in India. People must avoid hesitation and come out to vote. Most noteworthy, large voter turnout would signify a substantial involvement of the common people in Indian politics.

In conclusion, the democracy in India is something very precious. Furthermore, it is a gift of the patriotic national leaders to the citizens of India. Most noteworthy, the citizens of this country must realize and appreciate the great value of democracy. The democracy in India is certainly unique in the world.

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Indian Politics Essay

India is the largest democracy in the world, with over 133.92 Crores people of different cultures and religions. Cultural aspects of north India are completely different from that of down south. Similarly, central India has its own distinct cultural and linguistic heritage, which is completely different from north east or far west, for that matter. Considering the huge cultural and religious diversity of India it is quite natural that every region has its own political representative.

This in turn makes Indian politics complicated than the western democracies with a single religion and culture in majority. A politician in India can only be successful when he/she manages to garner the support of different religions, cultures as well as caste. Politics in India isn’t easy and provides a quite challenging environment to even the most adept politicians.

Long and Short Essay on Indian Politics in English

Here we have given short and long essay on Indian Politics of varying lengths to help you with the topic in your exam.

You can use any Indian Politics essay for your exams/assignments, essay writing, debate competitions or other similar occasions.

After going through the essays you will get an insight of Indian politics and its structure.

You will also appreciate the diversity of India and the role that the politics plays in making the voices of people heard.

Short Essay on Indian Politics – Essay 1 (200 words)

India is a democratic country. The political leaders and parties in India come into power by voting system. Indian citizens above the age of 18 years acquire the right to vote and elect their leaders. However, although it is a government by the people, to the people and for the people, the common man still suffers a great deal. This is because there is a lot of corruption within the political system of our country.

Most of our political leaders are known to be corrupt. Their corrupt practices often come to limelight however they are seldom punished for the same. Such a mindset and behaviour of our politicians is affecting the country adversely. This is hampering the growth and development of the country to a vast extent. The common man of the country is suffering the most due to the corrupt Indian politics. On the other hand, the ministers are misusing their power and position to further their interests.

A huge amount of tax is being levied on the general public. Instead of using this money to develop the country, corrupt politicians are filling their bank accounts with it. This is the reason why we have not developed as much as we should have since independence.

The Indian political system must be changed for good to bring about a positive change in the society.

Essay on Indian Politics and Politicians – Essay 2 (300 words)

Introduction

India enjoys a democratic set up that gives the general public the right to vote and elect government. While this type of political system is strong and sound with clearly defined laws, in India it has been a prey to corrupt politicians ever since its inception.

The Need for Educated Ministers

In India, almost anyone can contest elections and come to power. The person contesting the elections must be a citizen of India and should be minimum 25 years of age. Apart from this, there are few other very simple clauses to contest elections in our country.

It is strange that there is no minimum education criterion to run the government in our country. It is ironic that the nation has witnessed many uneducated and non deserving candidates rising to higher powerful levels in politics purely on the basis of money and muscle strength. We cannot expect our country to grow in the right direction when the power is in the hands of such politicians.

There is a dire need to elect educated politicians for the development of our country. We can exercise NOTA if none of the politicians contesting the elections is well-qualified and worthy of the position.

Corruption at the Chore of Indian Politics

Most of the politicians are corrupt. They misuse their power to further their interests rather than serving the country. Every now and then there is news about ministers and their family members being involved in illegal practices and scams. Since they are in power they do not fear anyone and get away with the crime.

It is the common man who is suffering due to these corrupt politicians and their corrupt practices.

India, as a nation can prosper only if our political system is improved. We need educated, sincere and hard working politicians who work for the betterment of our country and not for their personal good.

Essay on Indian Political System – Essay 3 (400 words)

India is a federal parliamentary democratic republic. It is known to be world’s largest democracy. This Indian political system came into being in August 1947 as the country got freedom from the British rule. The constitution of India was written soon after and came into force on 26 th January 1950. It has seen several amendments since then. These changes have been brought about for the good of the society after a lot of consideration.

The Political Set up of India

The President of India is the head of the state in our country while the Prime Minister is the head of the government. We have an upper house referred to as the Rajya Sabha and a lower house called the Lok Sabha. The members of these houses are known as the Members of Parliament (MP). Here is a brief about these parliamentary houses:

There are a total of 545 members in the Lok Sabha.
543 Lok Sabha members are elected by the general public of the country through election. 2 Lok Sabha members are elected directly by the President of the country from the Anglo Indian Community.
Among other requirements, one must be 25 years of age in order to be eligible for Lok Sabha membership.

Rajya Sabha

There are a total of 245 members in the Rajya Sabha.
233 members of the Rajya Sabha are elected from States and Union Territories. 12 members are nominated by the President.
A candidate must be at least 30 years old in order to become a Rajya Sabha member.

The Members of Parliament is an essential part of the Indian political system and have the power to take many political decisions collectively.

Political Parties and Formation of Government

India has numerous political parties that contest the elections. The party that gets majority of votes comes into power. The government of India is formed for a total of five years.

For years, the Indian National Congress and the Bhartiya Janata Party were the main political parties in the country that gave a tough competition to each other during elections. However, the recently formed Aam Aadmi Party headed by Arvind Kejriwal is now giving them a tough race.

The Indian political system largely suffers from corruption. Though the constitution of our country has clearly defined laws, the ministers are exempted from it for most part. They work as per their will and the general public suffers because of their corrupt means. The political system of the country needs serious reforms to ensure proper growth and development of the country.

Essay on Politics and Corruption – Essay 4 (500 words)

The terms, politics and corruption can be used synonymously when it comes to the Indian political system. It would be no exaggeration to say that the Indian political system is corrupted to the core.

Politics and Corruption

India is a land full of corrupt politicians who think about nothing but juggling more and more money by corrupt means. They work for their own benefit rather than the benefit of their country. The cases of the Indian politicians being involved in various kinds of scams have come forward many a times and these are a proof how they are bluffing the general public of the country to further their selfish motives.

Our leaders make numerous promises to the general public before coming to the power but forget about the same as they gain power. This happens in every election. The poor public gets fooled by the corrupt ministers each time. They vote for the politicians based on the promises they make in the hope of a better future. However, they are disheartened each time. Their problems remain unheard and they continue to live miserably.

Time to Bring About Change

The people of India need to wake up and realize that the political system will continue to stay as corrupt as it is till the time they allow it to be. They must realize that they are being befooled by the corrupt ministers time and again. The corrupt practices of the ministers are having negative repercussions on the entire society. The rise in the prices of petrol, diesel, food items and other commodities is all a result of the corruption in the system. Unequal wealth distribution and slow economic growth of the country is also because of the corrupt practices of our leaders.

It is unfortunate that willingly or unwillingly, the general public is becoming a party to the corrupt practices. One of the clear examples of this is bribery. While we allege the ministers and government officials of bribery we forget that we also promote the same by giving bribery at various places just to get our work done quickly and smoothly.

It is time for us to stand united to drive corruption out of our country. The only way to bring about a positive change in the political system is to raise voice unanimously. We need to realize that our strength lies in our unity and we must use it to improve the system.

Let the History Repeat itself

Just as the Indians stood united against the British, we must come together once again with the same dedication and feeling of patriotism to fight against corruption and the corrupt politicians. We must all think above our petty issues and work for a bigger cause. It is time to bring about reforms and stop the corrupt practices of the people in power. If our ancestors could struggle and sacrifice so much for our better future then why can’t we do the same?

The politicians of India are eating the country like parasites. Instead of complaining and yet being a part of this corrupt system, we must now act upon breaking it. We, Indians must unite to bring about reforms by ending corruption.

Long Essay on Women in Indian Politics – Essay 5 (600 words)

Indian society has always been male dominated. Women were restricted to the household chores for centuries. However, they are now being educated and exploring different fields. Women of our country are making a mark in different domains and Indian politics is one of them. The parliament of India has a good number of women members and the number is increasing with each election.

Women Politicians in India

Some Indian women who have made a mark in the field of Indian politics include:

Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi was the first female Prime Minister of India. She had a keen interest in Indian politics and helped her father Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Indian Prime Minister, with his political agendas. She became the Congress President in 1959 and went on to become the third Prime Minister of the country in 1966. She dominated the political scene during her tenure and was known for taking many hard decisions.

Her persona was so strong that she was named the ‘Woman of the Millennium’ in an online poll done by BBC.

Mamata Banerjee

Mamta Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal has proved to be stronger and wiser than many male politicians. She believed in herself and thus gathered the courage to separate from the Indian National Congress and form a party of her own in 1998. She is the founder of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITMC or TMC). She held many positions of prominence in the Indian politics before becoming the West Bengal Chief Minister. She is popular among the people of West Bengal who regard her as their Didi (elder sister).

She made a place in the list of 100 Most Influential People in the World in Time Magazine’s 2012 edition.

Jayalalithaa

Jayalalithaa was known for her dynamic personality. She was extremely popular among the people of Tamil Nadu. Her popularity can very well be ascertained by the fact that she was elected as the Chief Minister of the state for five terms. People of Tamil Nadu regarded her as a mother figure. She was fondly called Amma. She is also remembered by the name Puratchi Thalaivi meaning revolutionary leader.

It was found that she had accumulated massive assets by indulging in corrupt practices owing to which she was sentenced to imprisonment for four years. Many people came out to show their discontentment against this verdict. They did so by setting themselves on fire or hanging themselves.

Pratibha Patil

Pratibha Patil served as the 12 th President of India. She came to power in the year 2007 and successfully completed her term in 2012.

She has served numerous roles in the Indian politics and has years of experience in the field. She began her political career at the age of 27 when she got elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for the Jalgaon constituency. She went on to become the member of the Rajya Sabha and also served as a Member of Parliament for the Lok Sabha.

Sushma Swaraj

Sushma Swaraj is a well educated lady who served as a lawyer in the Supreme Court of India before joining the Indian politics. She is a popular leader of the Bhartiya Janta Party. She has served as the president of the party. She has been elected as the Member of Parliament seven times and thrice as the Member of the Legislative Assembly.

She has been serving as the Minister of External Affairs of India since May 2014. She had also served many other roles in the Indian politics.

India is lucky to have been blessed with such strong and dynamic women who have held positions of prominence in the Indian politics. They have set an example for the other woman to be confident, follow their dreams and work hard.

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The dominion of India was reborn on January 26, 1950, as a sovereign democratic republic and a union of states. That day is celebrated annually as Republic Day , a national holiday commemorating the adoption of India’s constitution on January 26, 1950. With universal adult franchise, India’s electorate was the world’s largest, but the traditional feudal roots of most of its illiterate populace were deep, just as their religious caste beliefs were to remain far more powerful than more recent exotic ideas, such as secular statehood. Elections were to be held, however, at least every five years, and the major model of government followed by India’s constitution was that of British parliamentary rule, with a lower House of the People ( Lok Sabha ), in which an elected prime minister and a cabinet sat, and an upper Council of States ( Rajya Sabha ). Nehru led his ruling Congress Party from New Delhi’s Lok Sabha until his death in 1964. The nominal head of India’s republic, however, was a president, who was indirectly elected. India’s first two presidents were Hindu Brahmans, Rajendra Prasad and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan , the latter a distinguished Sanskrit scholar who had lectured at the University of Oxford . Presidential powers were mostly ceremonial, except for brief periods of “emergency” rule, when the nation’s security was believed to be in great danger and normal constitutional procedures and civil rights were feared to be too cumbersome or threatening.

India’s federation divided powers between the central government in New Delhi and a number of state governments (crafted from former British provinces and princely states), each of which also had a nominal governor at its head and an elected chief minister with a cabinet to rule its legislative assembly. One of the Congress Party’s long-standing resolutions had called for the reorganization of British provincial borders into linguistic states, where each of India’s major regional languages would find its administrative reflection, while English and Hindi would remain joint national languages for purposes of legislation, law, and service examinations. Pressure for such reorganization increased in 1953, after the former British province of Madras was divided into Tamil Nadu (“Land of the Tamils”) and Andhra (from 1956 Andhra Pradesh ), where Telugu, another Dravidian tongue, was spoken by the vast majority. (Andhra Pradesh itself was divided in 2014, with the northern, Telugu-speaking portion being split off to become the new state of Telangana . Hyderabad [in Telangana] served as the capital of each state.) Nehru thus appointed the States Reorganisation Commission to redesign India’s internal map, which led to a major redrawing of administrative boundaries, especially in southern India, by the States Reorganization Act , passed in 1956. Four years later, in 1960, the enlarged state of Bombay was divided into Marathi-speaking Maharashtra and Gujarati-speaking Gujarat . Despite those changes, the difficult process of reorganization continued and demanded attention in many regions of the subcontinent, whose truly “continental” character was perhaps best seen in this ongoing linguistic agitation. Among the most difficult problems was a demand by Sikhs that their language, Punjabi, with its sacred Gurmukhi script, be made the official tongue of Punjab , but in that state many Hindus, fearing that they would find themselves disadvantaged, insisted that as Hindi speakers they too deserved a state of their own, if indeed the Sikhs were to be granted the Punjabi suba (state) for which so many Sikhs agitated. Nehru, however, refused to agree to a separate Sikh state, as he feared that such a concession to the Sikhs, who were both a religious and a linguistic group, might open the door to further “Pakistan-style” fragmentation.

Nehru served as his own foreign minister and throughout his life remained the chief architect of India’s foreign policy . The dark cloud of partition, however, hovered for years in the aftermath of India’s independence, and India and Pakistan were left suspicious of one another’s incitements to border violence.

The princely state of Jammu and Kashmir triggered the first undeclared war with Pakistan, which began a little more than two months after independence. Prior to partition, princes were given the option of joining the new dominion of India within which their territory lay, and, thanks to the vigorous lobbying of Mountbatten and Patel, most of the princes agreed to do so, accepting handsome pensions (so-called “privy purses”) as rewards for relinquishing sovereignty . Of some 570 princes, only 3 had not acceded to the new dominion or gone immediately over to Pakistan—those of Junagadh , Hyderabad , and Kashmir. The nawab of Junagadh and the nizam of Hyderabad were both Muslims, though most of their subjects were Hindus, and both states were surrounded, on land, by India. Junagadh, however, faced Pakistan on the Arabian Sea , and when its nawab followed Jinnah’s lead in opting to join that Muslim nation, India’s army moved in and took control of the territory. The nizam of Hyderabad was more cautious, hoping for independence for his vast domain in the heart of southern India, but India refused to give him much more than one year and sent troops into the state in September 1948. Both invasions met little, if any, resistance, and both states were swiftly integrated into India’s union.

Kashmir , lying in the Himalayas , presented a different problem. Its maharaja was Hindu, but about three-fourths of its population was Muslim, and the region itself was contiguous to both new dominions, sitting like a crown atop South Asia . Maharaja Hari Singh tried at first to remain independent, but in October 1947 Pashtun (Pathan) tribesmen from the North-West Frontier of Pakistan invaded Kashmir in trucks, heading toward Srinagar . The invasion triggered India’s first undeclared war with Pakistan and led at once to the maharaja’s decision to opt for accession to India. Mountbatten and Nehru airlifted Indian troops into Srinagar, and the tribesmen were forced to fall back to a line that has, since early 1949, partitioned Kashmir into Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir (the western portion of Kashmir) and Gilgit-Baltistan (the northern portion of Kashmir, also administered by Pakistan; formerly “Northern Areas”) and India-administered Jammu and Kashmir (the southern portion of Kashmir) and Ladakh (the eastern portion of Kashmir; administered as part of Jammu and Kashmir until 2019). Nehru initially agreed to Mountbatten’s proposal that a plebiscite be held in the entire state as soon as hostilities ceased, and a UN-sponsored cease-fire was agreed to by both parties on January 1, 1949. No statewide plebiscite was held, however, for in 1954, after Pakistan began to receive arms from the United States , Nehru withdrew his support.

India’s foreign policy, defined by Nehru as nonaligned, was based on Five Principles (Panch Shila): mutual respect for other nations’ territorial integrity and sovereignty; nonaggression; noninterference in internal affairs; equality and mutual benefit; and peaceful coexistence. These principles were, ironically, articulated in a treaty with China over the Tibet region in 1954, when Nehru still hoped for Sino-Indian “brotherhood” and leadership of a “Third World” of nonviolent nations, recently independent of colonial rule, eager to save the world from Cold War superpower confrontation and nuclear annihilation.

China and India, however, had not resolved a dispute over several areas of their border, most notably the section demarcating a barren plateau in Ladakh—most of which was called Aksai Chin , which was claimed by India as part of Jammu and Kashmir state but never properly surveyed—and the section bordered on the north by the McMahon Line , which stretched from Bhutan to Burma ( Myanmar ) and extended to the crest of the Great Himalayas . The latter area, designated as the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) in 1954, was claimed on the basis of a 1914 agreement between Arthur Henry McMahon , the British foreign secretary for India, and Tibetan officials but was never accepted by China. After China had reasserted its authority over Tibet in 1950, it began appealing to India—but to no avail—for negotiations over the border. This Sino-Indian dispute was exacerbated in the late 1950s after India discovered a road across Aksai Chin built by the Chinese to link its autonomous region of Xinjiang with Tibet. The tension was further heightened when in 1959 India granted asylum to the Dalai Lama , Tibet’s spiritual leader. Full-scale war (the month-long Sino-Indian War ) blazed in October 1962 when a Chinese army moved easily through India’s northern outposts and advanced virtually unopposed toward the plains of Assam before Beijing ordered their unilateral withdrawal.

The war was a blow to Nehru’s most-cherished principles and ideals, though India soon secured its northern defenses as a result of swift and extensive American and British military support, including the dispatch of U.S. bombers to the world’s highest border. India’s “police action” of integrating Portuguese Goa into the union by force in 1961 represented another fall from the high ground of nonviolence in foreign affairs, which Nehru so often claimed for India in his speeches to the UN and elsewhere. During his premiership, Nehru tried hard to identify the country’s foreign policy with anti-colonialism and anti-racism. He also tried to promote India’s role as the peacemaker, which was seen as an extension of the policies of Gandhi and as deeply rooted in the indigenous religious traditions of Buddhism , Jainism , and Hinduism . Like most foreign policies, India’s was, in fact, based first of all on its government’s perceptions of national interest and on security considerations.

As a Fabian socialist, Nehru had great faith in economic planning and personally chaired his government’s Planning Commission . India’s First Five-Year Plan was launched in 1951, and most of its funds were spent on rebuilding war-shattered railroads and on irrigation schemes and canals. Food grain production increased from 51 million tons in 1951 to 82 million tons by the end of the Second Five-Year Plan (1956–61). During that same decade, however, India’s population grew from about 360 million to 440 million, which eliminated real economic benefits for all but large landowners and the wealthiest and best-educated quarter of India’s urban population. The landless and unemployed lower half of India’s fast-growing population remained inadequately fed, ill-housed, and illiterate. Nehru’s wisdom in keeping his country nonaligned helped accelerate India’s economic development, as India received substantial aid from both sides of the Cold War , with the Soviet Union and eastern Europe contributing almost as much in capital goods and technical assistance as did the United States, Great Britain , and what was then West Germany . The growth of iron and steel industries soon became a truly international example of coexistence, with the United States building one plant, the Soviet Union another, Britain a third, and West Germany a fourth. For the Third Five-Year Plan (1961–66), launched during Nehru’s era, an Aid India Consortium of the major Western powers and Japan provided some $5 billion in capital and credits, and, as a result, India’s annual iron output rose to nearly 25 million tons by the plan’s end, with about three times that amount of coal produced and almost 40 billion kilowatt-hours of electric power generated. India had become the world’s 10th most advanced industrial country in terms of absolute value of output, though it remained per capita one of the least productive of the world’s major countries.

As modernity brought added comforts and pleasure to India’s urban elite, the gap between the larger industrial urban centers and the areas of extensive rural poverty became greater. Various programs designed to reduce rural poverty were tried, many ostensibly in emulation of Gandhi’s sarvodaya (rural “uplift”) philosophy, which advocated community sharing of all resources for the people’s mutual benefit and enhancement of peasant life. The social reformer Vinoba Bhave started a bhoodan (“gift of land”) movement, in which he walked from village to village and asked large landowners to “adopt” him as their son and to give him a portion of their property, which he would then distribute among the landless. He later expanded that program to include gramdan (“gift of village”), in which villagers voluntarily surrendered their land to a cooperative system, and jivandan (“gift of life”), the giving of all one’s labour, the latter attracting volunteers as famous as the socialist J.P. (Jaya Prakash) Narayan , who was the inspiration for the foundation of the Janata (People’s) Party opposition coalition to the Congress Party in the mid-1970s. The Ford Foundation , an American philanthropic organization, began a community development and rural extension program in the early 1950s that encouraged young Indian college students and technical experts to focus their skills and knowledge on village problems. India’s half million villages, however, were slow to change, and, though a number of showcase villages emerged in the environs of New Delhi, Bombay (later renamed Mumbai ), and other large cities, the more-remote villages remained centers of poverty, caste division, and illiteracy.

It was not until the late 1960s that chemical fertilizers and high-yield food seeds brought the Green Revolution in agriculture to India. The results were mixed, as many poor or small farmers were unable to afford the seeds or the risks involved in the new technology. Moreover, as production of rice and, especially, wheat increased, there was a corresponding decrease in other grain production. Farmers who benefited most were from the major wheat-growing areas of Haryana , Punjab, and western Uttar Pradesh .

Post-Nehru politics and foreign policy

At his death on May 27, 1964, Nehru’s only child and closest confidante , Indira Gandhi , was with him. Long separated from her husband—Feroze Gandhi, by then deceased—Indira had moved into Teen Murti Bhavan, the prime minister’s mansion, with her two sons, Rajiv and Sanjay . She had accompanied her father the world over and had been the leader of his Congress Party’s “ginger group” youth movement, as well as Congress president, but, as a young mother and widow, she had not as yet served in parliament nor in her father’s cabinet and, hence, did not put herself forward as a candidate for prime minister. Though it appeared that Nehru had been grooming her as his successor , he had denied any such intention, and his party instead chose Lal Bahadur Shastri as India’s second prime minister. Shastri had devoted his life to party affairs and had served Nehru well both inside and outside his cabinet. His modesty and simplicity, moreover, appealed to most Indians.

Almost immediately after Shastri took office, India was faced with a threat of war from Pakistan. Pakistan’s president, Mohammad Ayub Khan , had led a military coup in 1958 that put him in charge of his country’s civil and military affairs, and his regime had received substantial military support from the United States. By 1965 Ayub felt ready to test India’s frontier outposts, first in Sindh (Sind) and then in Kashmir. The first skirmishes were fought in the Rann of Kachchh (Kutch) in April, and Pakistan’s U.S.-made tanks rolled to what seemed like an easy victory over India’s counterparts. The Commonwealth prime ministers and the UN quickly prevailed on both sides to agree to a cease-fire and withdrawal of forces to the prewar borders. Pakistan, however, believed it had won and that India’s army was weak, and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto , Ayub’s foreign minister, urged another round in Kashmir that summer, to which Ayub agreed. In mid-August Pakistan launched “Operation Grandslam” with the hope of cutting across the only significant overland route to Kashmir before India could bring up its outmoded tanks. India’s forces, however, moved a three-pronged tank attack aimed at Lahore and Sialkot across the international border in Punjab early in September. The great city of Lahore was in range of Indian tank fire by September 23, when both sides agreed on a UN cease-fire. Each country’s army had suffered considerable losses and had run low on ammunition as a result of the immediate decision by the United Kingdom and the United States to embargo all further military shipments to both armies. Shastri was hailed as a hero in New Delhi.

A Soviet -sponsored South Asian peace conference was held early in January 1966 at Tashkent , in what was then the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic, where Ayub and Shastri finally reached an agreement on January 10 to “restore normal and peaceful relations” between India and Pakistan. The next morning, however, Shastri was dead of a heart attack , and the Tashkent Agreement hardly outlived him. Before the month’s end, Indira Gandhi, who had served in Shastri’s cabinet as minister of information and broadcasting, had been elected by the Congress Party to become India’s next prime minister. She easily defeated her only rival, Morarji Desai .

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Political Science: Volume 2: Indian Democracy

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5 5 Party System and Party Politics in India

Published: September 2013
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This chapter examines works and writings related to the history of the party system and party politics in India. It focuses on causes, nature, and consequences of the transformation of the party system. It also discusses the ideology, support base, and vote mobilization strategies of parties. The chapter elucidates the emergence of a coalitional multiparty system and the rise of ideological differences in the mobilization of party support based on appeals to caste, religion, region, and ethnicity.

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Essay on Election in India

Students are often asked to write an essay on Election in India in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Election in India

Introduction.

Elections in India symbolize the democratic nature of the country. They provide citizens the right to choose their leaders.

Types of Elections

India has three types of elections: Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and State Legislative Assemblies.

Significance

Elections ensure people’s participation in governance. They uphold the principle of equality as every vote counts.

Also check:

250 Words Essay on Election in India

India, the world’s largest democracy, has a multi-tiered system of government, reflecting its federal structure. The heart of this democratic setup lies in its elections, a robust process that enables citizens to exercise their right to vote and choose their representatives.

Electoral System

India follows a parliamentary system of government, which is federal in structure with unitary features. The President of India is the constitutional head, while real power resides with the Prime Minister. Elections in India occur at national, state, and local levels. The Election Commission of India, an autonomous constitutional authority, is responsible for administering election processes.

Electoral Process

Elections in India follow the first-past-the-post system. In this system, the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins, irrespective of whether they secure a majority. This system has been criticized for not accurately reflecting the voters’ will, leading to discussions about potential alternatives like proportional representation.

Challenges and Reforms

Despite the challenges, elections in India symbolize the strength and vitality of its democracy. They represent the voice of over a billion people, making them a significant global event. Continuous efforts are required to improve the electoral process and ensure that it remains free, fair, and inclusive.

500 Words Essay on Election in India

Introduction to indian elections.

Elections in India are a grand affair, often referred to as the “festival of democracy.” They represent the democratic ethos and constitutional principles that the nation is built upon. The Indian election system is a complex process, with multiple layers of representation, from local to national levels.

Structural Framework

India follows a federal structure of governance, though the election process is largely centralized. The Election Commission of India (ECI), an autonomous constitutional authority, is responsible for administering election processes in the country. Elections are conducted at different levels: Panchayat (village level), Municipal (city level), State (provincial level), and Lok Sabha (national level).

Voting System

India follows the ‘First Past The Post’ (FPTP) system. In this system, the candidate receiving the highest number of votes in a constituency is declared the winner, irrespective of the vote share. While FPTP allows for clear winners, it has been criticized for not truly reflecting the proportional representation of voters’ choices.

Role of Political Parties

Challenges in indian elections, reforms and the way forward.

The ECI has introduced several reforms to address these challenges. The use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the introduction of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) have improved the transparency and integrity of the process. The NOTA (None of the Above) option empowers voters to reject all candidates.

However, further reforms are needed. These could include state funding of elections to curb the misuse of money power, stronger laws to prevent criminalization in politics, and perhaps a shift towards a system of proportional representation to better reflect the diversity of voter preferences.

Indian elections, with their scale and complexity, are a testament to the country’s vibrant democracy. Despite the challenges, they offer a platform for the expression of popular will and the peaceful transition of power. They are a reminder of the power of the ballot, and the responsibility that comes with it, in shaping the future of the world’s largest democracy.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

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Essay on Democracy in India

List of essays on democracy in india, essay on democracy in india – short essay for children (essay 1 – 150 words), essay on democracy in india – 10 lines on democracy written in english (essay 2 – 250 words), essay on democracy in india (essay 3 – 300 words), essay on democracy in india – what is democracy (essay 4 – 400 words), essay on democracy in india – for school students (class 6, 7 and 8) (essay 5 – 500 words), essay on democracy in india – for college students (essay 6 – 600 words), essay on democracy in indian constitution (essay 7 – 750 words), essay on democracy in india – long essay for competitive exams like ias, ips civil services and upsc (essay 8 – 1000 words).

India is considered as the lighthouse that guides the democratic movement in the African–Asian countries. Democracy in India is backed by our written Constitution which consists of a list of all fundamental laws upon which our nation is to be governed.

January 26, the day on which our Constitution came into effect is celebrated as Republic Day and it was on this day that Democracy truly entered India.

Audience: The below given essays are exclusively written for school students (Class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 Standard) and college students. Furthermore, those students preparing for competitive exams like IAS, IPS and UPSC can also increase their knowledge by studying these essays.

Introduction:

Democracy in India can be defined as a government by the people, of the people and for the people. In India the government is formed by the citizens through their elected representatives.

Principle of Democracy in India:

In a democracy at least the fundamental rights of the individuals are guaranteed. The five principles by which the democracy in India works are Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic and Republic.

Enhancement Areas:

Some of the areas in which the Democracy in India can be improved include the eradication of poverty, encouraging people to vote and educate them about choosing the appropriate candidate, increasing literacy etc.

Conclusion:

Democracy in India is one of the biggest in the world and is celebrated worldwide. Given the wide range of culture and diversity, the need of the hour is that democracy is upheld without losing the diverse heritage of which the country is proud of. Democracy in India would be smooth when the emotions of every culture is acknowledged.

India is the largest democracy in the world. The citizens of the country who are above 18 years of age, elect their representatives in the Lok Sabha via secret ballots (general elections). They are elected for a period of 5 years and ministers are chosen from the elected representatives. India became a democratic nation in 1947 and thereafter the leaders were elected by the people of India. Different parties’ campaign using different future agendas and they emphasize on what they did for the development of people between the election periods. This way, the citizens can make an informed choice in selecting a particular representative.

The word democracy is derived from Greek and it literary means ‘power of the people’. The government is run by the people and it if for the people. The model of Indian democracy is followed by the entire Afro-Asian countries. Our form of democracy in India is much different from democracy of other nations like England and USA.

Although the democracy in India is much advanced, there are still some drawbacks which affect the healthy functioning of the system. These include religion and ignorance. Although we say India is a secular country, but there are still people present who believe in treating people from different religions differently. We have advanced from the ancient traditions like Sati but now a days, people kill each other over killing of Cow, which is considered as a sacred animal for Hindus. Other than these, much work needs to be done to reduce and eliminate poverty, illiteracy and gender discrimination among a list of many others.

India is the largest country in the world that follows the Democratic form of government. With a population of over a billion, India is a secular, socialistic, republic, and democratic country in the world. India is considered as the lighthouse that guides the democratic movement in the African–Asian countries.

Meaning of Democracy:

Democracy means ‘by the people, for the people, and of the people’. A democratic country is one whose government is made of the people, elected by the people to serve the people. The Indian country is governed by a parliamentary system of governance which follows the constitution of India. During the past 70 years, India has held regular elections for the legislative and parliamentary assemblies, reflecting the power of the election commission, who is regarded as the powerful authority.

Democracy in India has a very strong foundation that runs deep into the cultural and moral ethics. Thanks to the efficient leaders like Lal Bahadur Shastri, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, etc., whose contribution to a successful democratic India is immeasurable.

Principles of Democratic India:

Democracy in India follows five principles. They are:

a) Secular – A place where people are bestowed with the freedom of religion, to follow a religion of their own choice.

b) Social – Providing equality to everyone irrespective of their caste, creed, color, gender, and other differences.

c) Sovereign – A country that is free from the control of any foreign authorities or power.

d) Democratic – A country where the government is made for the people, by the people of the country with the representatives of people.

e) Republic – No hierarchy is followed while the head of the country is elected by regular elections and the power changes at a regular period of interval.

Not only does democracy in India mean that every citizen has the right to vote, but also it says that people – the citizens of India have full right to question the government if the government doesn’t ensure equality to its citizens in all spheres of life. While democracy in India is effective, we have a long way to go to become a successful democratic country. Illiteracy, poverty, discrimination, and other social issues should be eradicated completely to enjoy the real fruit of democracy in India.

The best definition of democracy has been described as the government of the people, by the people and for the people. India became a sovereign democratic nation back in the year 1947 and the country is still on the roads to development.

In true terms, democracy in India would mean a country wherein people can find quality and they have the freedom to express themselves. The ideal nation is going to be truly democratic and this leaves us with a baffling question. Is democracy in India truly established?

Given the state of turmoil which our nation is in, the question indeed has a palpable and sorry answer. To be honest, if democracy in India was legit, people will have the power to choose their destiny. While we do have a voting system in place which gives people the power to elect their representative, it is often seen to be grossly misused.

The Need to Educate and Enlighten:

If we want the largest democracy of the world to truly live up to the meaning of democracy; it is important to both educate and enlighten the masses. More and more people need to understand the power that has been vested in them. When the commoners understand the kind of influence they can have as far as choosing their political leader is concerned; it might help them think meticulously before putting in the vote and can sanctify the meaning of democracy in India.

There are so many people who do not even bother to register a vote. Are they not bothered about the outcome and progress of their nation? Unless, the right measures are taken to truly educate the mass about how democracy in India is the glorious future we should all dream of, things are least likely to change.

Handling the Flaws:

It’s been a long time since we became independent. So, it is important now to handle the flaws in the democracy in India. The seeds of corruption have been very deeply set in our country and one needs to do something as a start to combat the problem.

It is easy to whine and very hard to put up a fight. So, the right thing which you should do is ensure that you do your bit for the sake of improving the state of affairs of the country. Give in your best shot and be hopeful that things will change for the good as far as democracy in India is concerned.

When the people of the country start taking an active part in the welfare of the state, we will achieve the true meaning of democracy in India.

The word Democracy is derived from the Greek words ‘Demos’ and ‘Kratos’. Demos means People and Kratos means Power. Together put, it means People’s Power. Abraham Lincoln described Democracy as ‘Government by the people, for the people and of the people’. The emphasis on people clearly shows that Democracy is a people-centric form of government. Many consider it to be a superior form of governance as it ensures social and economic equality of every citizen in the country.

In India, a Democratic government was formed only after its freedom from the British rule in 1947. However, the practices of a Democratic system in India go way back. Both Rigveda and Atharvaveda have references of a system where the people gather as a whole and elect Kings.

Democracy in India is backed by our written Constitution which consists of a list of all fundamental laws upon which our nation is to be governed. January 26, the day on which our Constitution came into effect is celebrated as Republic Day and it was on this day that Democracy truly entered India.

Types of Democracy:

Democracy is of two types, Direct Democracy and Indirect Democracy.

In Direct Democracy, all the people come together in a single place to elect the governing executives themselves. This is possible for small cities where the population is less and everybody can gather together at one place. Even today, Switzerland exercises a Direct Democracy system.

Indirect Democracy is exercised in countries where there is huge population, making it difficult for all to gather at one place. In this case, people elect representatives who in turn elect the governing executive. Hence in India, Indirect Democracy is practiced.

Five Principles of Indian Democracy:

Democracy in India operates on five important principles:

1. Sovereign: In our country, we Indians are the supreme power and are not controlled by any other foreign power.

2. Socialist: There is economic and social equality promised to every citizen of India.

3. Secular: Every Indian citizen has the freedom to practise his religion of choice.

4. Democratic: Our government is elected by the people.

5. Republic: Supreme power is held by the people and their nominated representatives, instead of a hereditary king.

Working of Indian Democracy:

India has a Federal government where there are separate State governments which come under a single Central government. Indian citizens elect their leaders by the system of voting. Both State and Central elections happen once in five years. Every citizen above the age of eighteen years has the right to vote irrespective of caste, color, creed, religion, gender and education.

Any citizen has the right to stand as a candidate for the post of President and Prime Minister irrespective of religion, gender and education. Elections happen through secret ballots. People elect their representatives of the State who in-turn elect the Head of State, the Chief Minister. Similarly, the public elect the members of the Parliament who in turn elect the Prime Minister.

Democracy in India has succeeded on contrary to the beliefs of many political scientists. Today, India is a pioneer of Democracy in Asia and all other Asian and African countries look up to us for Democratic inspirations.

India is a democratic nation. If you do not know what democracy means, one of the most popular definition has to be, “the government by the people, for the people, of the people.”

So, if we truly want our nation to be democratic and preserve the value of this term, it signifies the fact that the common people should all be a part of the development of the nation. The government should so function that their decisions help in the betterment of the country and the citizens.

Are we truly a democratic nation?

A lot of people argue as to whether or not we are truly democratic, we need to know that there is still a long way to go. As per the books of law and the great Indian constitution, we can see that we are one of the leading democratic countries. However, if you decide to go beyond the books, you will perceive the change. There is a long way to go because democracy has a wider and deeper meaning.

The True Meaning:

Democracy means that people elect the representatives who in turn take charge of the nation and help in the betterment and upliftment of the citizens. While in India, which is a top democratic country, we do have the power to elect our representatives, there is still a lot which needs to be done. Our elected representatives do not understand the importance of the office they are holding. This is why the country has failed to make the kind of progress which it may have otherwise made.

Along with this, it is also seen that there are a lot of unscrupulous means which are often used for the sake of electing representatives. There has to be even more control when it comes to voting and election. When people are clear about their role and they understand that it is with their influence and power that the future of the country can be improved, they are likely to put their power to right use.

How can we truly live up to the tag of democracy?

The change needs to begin with you. There are so many people who complain about how our country has made a mockery of democracy, however what one has to clearly understand is that democracy calls for an equal work by everyone. Remember rather than whining and blaming, you should make it a point to do something yourself.

Create an awareness campaign and try and explain people as to why and how they could bring a change in the nation and contribute towards justifying the tag of India being a true democracy. This awareness and education can be critical in pushing the right waves of change.

Choose leader wisely: It is also important to make sure that we are mindful of who we are choosing as our leaders. You should take the decision on the right parameters rather than being judgmental and getting hoodwinked by superficial factors. The right decision today can safeguard your tomorrow.

So in the end you should understand that democracy is definitely one of the founding pillars for any progressive nation, India is a democracy but we still have a long way to go. Both the individuals and the leaders need to understand the true meaning of democracy and then find the right ways to work around things.

There is no great bond than what ties people to their motherland. So you should make it a point to let the meaning and feeling of democracy seep inside your body and mind and then let it work the magic. Our country deserves our love and respect and definitely the undivided attention as well.

So, let us do our bit for true democracy.

Over a long period of time, India has been ruled by different rulers as well had different forms of government. However, post the British era, India has seen a constant form of government which is governed under the law as laid down under the constitution of India. Democracy is one such important feature of our constitution. Under democracy, the citizens of the country have the right to vote as well the members who in turn form the government.

History of Democracy

The earliest mention of the word democracy has been found in the Greek political texts dating back to 508-507 BC. It has been derived from the word demos which mean common people and Kratos which means strength.

Democracy in Indian Constitution:

Democracy through the constitution of India gives its nationals the privilege to cast a ballot regardless of their rank, caste, creed religion or gender. It has five equitable standards – secular, socialist, republic, sovereign and democratic. Different political organisations represent people at the state and national level. They proliferate about the undertakings achieved in their past residency and furthermore share their tentative arrangements with the general population.

Each citizen of India, over the age of 18 years, has the privilege to cast a vote. The government has always encouraged the individuals to make their choice and cast their vote. Individuals must know everything about the applicants representing the decisions and vote in favour of the most meriting one for good government.

India is known to have an effective democratic framework. In any case, there are some loopholes as well that dampen the spirit of democracy and should be dealt with. In addition to other things, the legislature must work on disposing of poverty, lack of education, communalism, gender discrimination and casteism with the end goal to guarantee democratic system in its obvious sense.

Importance of Democracy in Indian Politics:

Indian democratic government is described by peaceful conjunction of various thoughts and beliefs. There are solid collaboration and rivalry among different political organisations. Since the poll is the path of democratic system, there exist numerous political organisations and every organisation has their own agenda and thoughts.

Good Effects of Democracy:

The democracy has its own share of advantages as well as disadvantages for the common citizens of the country. First, it is instrumental in protecting the rights of the citizens and gives them all the right to choose their government. Additionally, it does not allow a monocratic rule to crop us as all leaders know that need to perform in case they want the people to elect them during the next elections as well. Hence they cannot assume that they have powers forever. Giving all the citizens right to vote provides them with a sense of equality irrespective of their caste, gender, creed or financial status.

The government so formed after democratic elections is usually a stable and responsible form of government. It makes the government socially responsible towards all citizens and the government cannot ignore the plight of its citizens. On the other side, the citizen also behaves in a responsible manner as they know that it is not only their right but their duty as well to choose the government wisely. They are themselves to be blamed if they do not get the government they had wished for it is they who have not rightly exercised their right to vote.

Ill Effects of Democracy:

Democracy, however, leads to misuse of public funds as time and again the elections are conducted at short intervals when we don’t get a stable government and there is infighting among the elected representatives. Also, though considered a duty, the people at times do not exercise their right to vote and a very less voting percentage is seen in many areas which do not give a fair chance to all contestants. Last, but not the least, unfair practices during elections dampen the very spirit of democracy.

A government who strive to be successful cannot overlook the majority of the population that work at fields and the middle class in India. The laws are confined by just thoughts and beliefs of the population. Majority ruling government keeps away from struggle and showdown and makes a peaceful climate for all to live a happy life.

However, at times it has been seen that the majority of the general population of our nation are ignorant and struggle to make their ends meet on day to day basis. Except if the nation is financially and instructively propelled, it will not be right to believe that the electorate will utilize their right to vote to the best advantages of themselves and the nation.

Introduction (Definition) and Concept of Democracy in India:

Democracy in India is the largest in the whole world. Democracy means that the citizens of that country have the power to choose their government. Based on that concept laid by Abraham Lincoln, democracy in India gives rise to a government which is of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Since independence, our constitution has made sure that democracy in India is exercised in its truest form. The greatest of all the powers given to the citizens is their right to vote and maintain the fair establishment of democracy in India.

Not only that, but the system of democracy in India also gives every citizen the right to form a political party and participate in the elections. As you can see, the democracy in India focuses more on its common people than its ruling party.

Importance and Need of Democracy in India:

But why has the democracy in India gained so much hype globally? Well, with the second largest population in the world, we would have been a mess, if it were not for the democracy in India. There are people from so many religions, castes, and creeds that incorporating the system of democracy in India was the only way out to maintain peace in the country.

With so much cultural and religious diversity, democracy in India protects the citizens from unjustified partialities and favoritism. Democracy in India gives equal rights and freedom to every person regardless of their beliefs and standard of living.

The scheduled caste and scheduled tribes in our country had been out casted from the main society since ages. Democracy in India makes sure that they get as many opportunities and support from us as anyone else needs to grow and progress in life.

And to be honest, it’s not just the tribes and castes, in fact, in the absence of democracy in India, there would be so many disparities on gender and income levels. The allegedly weaker and less privileged sections of society including women, transgender, and physically handicapped would be mere space fillers in the country. Democracy in India empowers them with full rights and freedom of speech as well.

Types and Forms of Democracy in India:

Basically, there are two types of Democratic system practiced in the world. The same holds true in the context of our nation also. These two types of democratic systems are direct democracy and indirect democracy.

First, we will talk about direct democracy. In this kind of system, people directly participate in the process of picking their leaders. In fact, they are physically present during the whole process and collectively announce the name of their leader. As you can see, such kind of method is not feasible in the case of a large population. This is the reason why direct democracy in India has disappeared over the years. If at all, it is only followed in small villages and panchayat.

The second type of democracy is indirect democracy. The indirect democracy in India is the most popular alternative to form the government in the country. In this system, instead of getting involved directly, citizens of the nation participate indirectly in the process of electing their leaders. The biggest way to practice indirect democracy in India is by giving the votes during the election.

In the case of indirect democracy, the political parties pick a handful of their worthiest members and help them stand and fight in the elections. The common public gets to vote in favor of their favorite political leader. The one who gets the highest votes becomes the ruling minister in the respective region.

Democracy in India (Reality and Expectations):

Although ideally, all the procedures involved in the indirect democracy in India sound flawless, the ground reality is something else. Incorporating laws, in theory, is much easier than following in practical life. Same is the story with our country.

No matter how much we claim to have a fair and transparent system of democracy in India, we must admit that there are plenty of loopholes in reality. For instance, voting is done through Electronic voting machines (EVM).

The EVM topic has been the talk of the town for a while in India, especially during the recent elections. Allegedly, the ruling parties have been accused of interfering with the machines which led to a huge scam. In other words, it can be called nothing but a great dishonor to the indirect democracy in India.

Apart from that, we have a long history of violence and terror in the common public spread by the political parties, right before the major elections. This kind of shameful threating is specifically true in case of villages and small towns where people are made to vote at gunpoint for a particular party.

Moreover, democracy in India gives everyone equal rights to participate in the elections and in the process of voting. However, these right have been hampered on many occasions. A few years ago, women candidates in the political parties were not taken seriously. Even if they fought in the elections and won, their decision making was mainly carried out either by their husbands or by other political leaders in the same party.

The road to democracy in India has been uneven and tricky for the trans-genders as well. It wasn’t much before when they were crashed and killed just for trying to attempt and enter the political arena of the country.

That being said, things are changing at a considerable pace and for the better. There are more openness and acceptance in terms of people from other genders and age groups. The Election Commission is following strict measures to ensure a clean and fair system of democracy in India.

Democracy , Democracy in India , Political System

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Political Parties in India

Political Parties are a crucial topic in the Polity segment in the UPSC CSE Exam. In India political parties assume different dynamic features. What they are will be elaborated upon in this article.

The information in this article will be useful for candidates attempting the IAS exam

Kickstart your preparation now and complement it with the links given below:

Definition and Types of Political Parties

Political parties are voluntary associations or organised groups of individuals who share the same political views and who try to gain power via constitutional means and who desire to promote national interests.

In modern democratic states, there are four types of political parties

Reactionary parties which cling to the old socio-economic and political institutions
Conservative parties that believe in status-quo
Liberal parties that aim to change and reform the existing institutions
Radical parties which aim at establishing a new order by overthrowing the existing institutions

Political parties are also classified as per the ideologies. Political scientists have placed radical parties on the left, liberal parties in the centre and reactionary and conservative parties on the right.

In India, CPI and CPM are examples of leftist parties, Congress of centrist parties and the BJP is an example of rightist parties.

There are three kinds of party systems in the world:

(i) The one party system in which only one party rules and no opposition party is permitted. The Soviet Union was an example of one party system.

(ii) Two-party system on which two major parties exist. For example the Republicans and the Democrats in the United States.

(iii) Multi-party system on which there are a number of political parties lead to the formation of coalition governments. India, France and Switzerland are examples of multi-party systems.

To know more in detail about the Rajya Sabha , visit the linked article.

Party System in India – Download PDF Here

Characteristics of Party System in India

The following are the characteristics of the party system in India:

Multi-Party System: The continental size of the, the diversified characteristics of the Indian society, the adoption of universal adult franchise, the peculiar type of political processes have given rise to a large number of political parties. In fact, India has the largest number of political parties in the world.Further, India has all categories of parties – left parties, centrist parties, right parties and so on. Consequently the hung Parliaments, hung assemblies and coalition governments have become a common phenomenon in Indian politics.
One-Dominant Party Systems : In spite of the multiparty system, the political scene in India was dominated for a long period by the Congress. Hence, Rajni Kothari, an eminent political analyst, preferred to call the Indian party system as ‘one party dominance system’ or the ‘Congress System’.The dominant position enjoyed by the Congress has been on the decline since 1967 with the rise of regional parties and other national parties like the Janata Dal and BJP.
Lack of Clear Ideology: Except the BJP, the CPI and CPM, all other parties do not have a clear-cut ideology. They (i.e., all other aeries) are ideologically closer to each other. They have a close resemblance in their policies and programmes. Almost every party advocates democracy, secularism , socialism and Gandhism. Moreover, every party , including the so-called ideological parties, is guided by only one consideration – power capture. Thus, politics has become issue-based rather than ideology and pragmatism has replaced the commitment of its principles.
Personality Cult: Quite often, the parties are organised around an eminent leader who becomes more important than the party and its ideology. Parties are known by their leaders and their ideology. Parties are known by their leaders rather than by their manifesto. It is a fact that the popularity of the Congress was mainly due to the leadership of Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. It is the same case for the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu and TDP in Andhra Pradesh which got recognition with MG Ramachandran and NT Rama Rao respectively.
Based on Traditional Factors: In the western counties, the political parties are formed on the basis of socio-economic and political programmes. On the other hand, a large number of parties in India are formed on the basis of religion, caste, language, culture and so on. For example, Shiv Sena, Muslim League, Hindu Maha Sabha and so on. These parties work for the promotion of a given community and sectional interests that undermine the general public interest.
Emergence of Regional Parties: Another significant feature of the Indian party system is the emergence of a large number of regional parties and their growing role. They have become the ruling parties in various states like BJD in Orissa, DMK or AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, Akali Dal in Punjab and so on. In the beginning, they were confined to regional politics only. But of late they have come to play a significant role in the national politics due to coalition governments at the Centre.

Learn more about regionalism in the given link.

Faction and Defections: Factionalism, defections , splits, mergers, polarisation and so on have been an important aspect of the functioning political parties in India. Lust for power and materialistic conditions have made political parties leave their party and join another party.The practice of defections gained greater currency after the fourth general elections in 1967. This phenomenon caused instability both at the Centre and in the states and led to disintegration of the parties.
Lack of Effective Opposition: An effective Opposition is very essential for the successful operation of the parliamentary democracy prevalent in India. It checks the autocratic tendencies of the ruling party and provides an alternative government. However, in the last 50 years an effective, strong, organised and visible national Opposition could never emerge except in flashes.

The opposition parties have no unity and very often adopt mutually conflicting positions with respect to the ruling party. They have failed to play a constructive role in the functioning of the body politic and in the process of nation building.

Recognition of National and State Parties

The Election Commission registers political parties for the purpose of elections and grants them recognition as national or state parties on the basis of their poll performance. The other parties are simply declared as registered-unrecognised parties.

The recognition granted by the Commission to the parties determines their right to certain privileges like allocation of the party symbols, provision of time for political broadcasts on the state-owned television and radio stations and access to electoral rolls.

Every national party is allotted a symbol exclusively reserved for its use throughout the country. Similarly, every state party is allotted a symbol exclusively reserved for its use in the states in which it is so recognised. A registered-unrecognised party, on the other hand, can select a symbol from a list of free symbols.

In other words, the Commission specifies certain symbols as ‘reserved symbols’ which are meant for the candidates set up by the recognised pirates and others as ‘free symbols’ which are meant for the other candidates.

The conditions for recognition as National Party and State Party are as follows:

National Party:

Secure at least 6% of the valid vote in an Assembly or a Lok Sabha General Election in any four or more states and won at least 4 seats in a Lok Sabha General Election from any State or States
If a party wins two % of seats in the Lok Sabha at a general election and these candidates are elected from three states. An additional criteria includes if the party is recognised as a state party in four states.

State Party:

If the party secures 6% of the valid votes polled in the state at a general election to the legislative assembly of the state concerned and in addition wins 2 seats in the assembly of the state concerned.
The state party secures 6% of the valid votes polled in the state at a general election to the Lok Sabha from the state concerned. In addition if it wins 1 seat in the Lok Sabha from the state concerned.
If it wins 3% of the seats in the legislative assembly at a general election to the legislative assembly of the state concerned or 3 seats in the assembly, whichever is more.
If it wins 1 seat in the Lok Sabha for every 25 seats or any fraction thereof allotted to the state at a general electron to the Lok Sabha from the concerned states
If the state party secures 8% of the total valid votes polled in the state at a General Elections to the Lok Sabha from the state or to the legislative assembly of the state. The condition was added in 2011.

Frequently Asked Question about LIC AAO Exam

What is a multi-party system in india, how many political parties are there in india, what is meant by the party system.

Aspirants can find complete information about upcoming Government Exams through the linked article. More exam-related preparation materials will be found through the links given below



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India’s democracy: illusion or reality.

For the last sixty years, since it gained independence in 1947, India has claimed the position of the world’s largest democracy. For almost as long, skeptics have seen India’s democracy as an Indian rope trick,1 an illusion in which the superstructure of democratic government—a parliament and prime minister, periodic elections, constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms—hides the reality of on-the-ground authoritarian rule by local landlords, bureaucracy, and party bosses, buttressed by a culture of caste-based inequality, and sustained by India’s continuing desperate poverty.

If this is an illusion, it is an impressive one. Within two years of independence, and through open and spirited debate, India produced a constitution that guarantees “fundamental rights,” and a federal and parliamentary system with a significant role for the Supreme Court, which over the years has enhanced its powers in the system through decisions that limit parliamentary sovereignty. From the beginning, there was tolerance of peaceful dissent and a wide range of active political associations. Despite some small-scale Communist-led rebellions, the Communist Party was not banned. There was a vigorous free press.

The 1951–52 elections for national parliament and state legislatures highlighted the bold decision to adopt universal adult suffrage. Despite the high level of illiteracy and low level of education, all men and women twenty-one and older—the age limit has since been lowered to eighteen—had the right to vote. With Jawaharlal Nehru in the lead, the campaign was very lively, with literally thousands of public meetings and processions. There was no doubt that the Congress Party would win the election easily, since it was a mass movement that had brought freedom to the country. It had major responsibility for governing the country in the five years before the election, but it is significant that Nehru, as Prime Minister, had included important leaders of other parties in the cabinet, including the Law Minister, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the leader of the “untouchables,” and S. P. Mookherjee, who later founded the Hindu nationalist party, the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. Even though the Congress won an overwhelming majority of seats in parliament and in every state legislature, it received less than half the vote. Thus, a mandate was given for Congress to rule, and for the opposition to legitimately hold it accountable.

Nehru continued to act as tutor for India’s democracy, making sure to attend parliament on important occasions, respecting opposition party leaders, and listening to those in power in the states, who were his comrades in the freedom struggle and Congress Party members. The next two sets of elections (held in 1957 and 1962) followed the same pattern, with the Congress surviving the major political crisis that ended with the reorganization of the states—a substantial redrawing of the map of India based on language. In the 1967 election, however, the Congress met defeat in many major states, bringing opposition coalitions to power. The defeat was one factor that caused a split in the party in 1969. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, adopting a populist electoral appeal, swept aside the other Congress splinter, and in the aftermath of India’s successful war against Pakistan in 1971, won victories in states lost in 1967 and in several other mid-term elections. Indira Gandhi’s actions seemingly re-established Congress hegemony.

A series of economic and political crises, however, resulted in Mrs. Gandhi, in June 1975, invoking a constitutional provision for declaring a national “Emergency.” She jailed opposition leaders, imposed press censorship, and rammed through constitutional amendments to reduce the autonomy of the judiciary and enhance executive powers. Despite very little popular resistance, after a year or so there was considerable disillusionment with the claimed benefits of the Emergency and disquiet with apparent abuses of power. To her everlasting credit, Mrs. Gandhi not only allowed the scheduled election of parliament, but did not interfere with its administration. The election was as free and fair as previous ones, with most opposition leaders freed from jail and the press allowed to function as before.

The unexpected and exhilarating defeat of Mrs. Gandhi and the Congress in the 1977 election constituted a second liberation from authoritarian rule. It is critical to note that Mrs. Gandhi quietly handed over power to the winners, and three years later fought successfully to return to power through democratic means. In the meantime, the constitutional powers of the judiciary had been restored, other changes repealed, and the Congress faced a credible political alternative at both national and state levels. The press rapidly changed into a more active institution, doing investigative reporting and challenging the government in ways it hadn’t before the Emergency.

In the four decades since 1977, India’s democracy has weathered other crises—the separatist movements in Punjab and the northeast states, for example—without returning to authoritarian rule. Regular elections have been held, and there has been peaceful alternation of power between parties or coalitions six times at the national level and countless times in the states. 2 A free press has become a largely free media, as the government has diluted its monopoly of TV (although it still holds complete control of the radio broadcast system), and information flows freely from abroad, as it has always done. Political parties and non-governmental organizations, ranging from local social action groups to country-wide issue-oriented movements (on the environment, for instance) continue to grow in importance. Individual freedoms of speech, association, and assembly are largely unconstrained.

Currently, the political landscape continues to feature a national parliament that meets regularly, debates openly, but in many ways is fairly weak as a legislative body. Now, twenty-eight states also have regularly elected and functioning legislatures, chief ministers, and cab inets that make policies in crucial areas mainly reserved for the states, such as law and order, education, health, and economic development. Originally, local government institutions were creatures of state government. However, local government has found a place in the constitution, with required periodic elections and a mandate for substantial transfer of resources for development purposes. Elections throughout India have produced literally millions of newly elected representatives, one-third of them women. For the most part, however, substantial financial resources have not been provided to those institutions.

Image shows children, a man, and a woman on the sidewalk in front of a CPI(M) mural (Communist Party India Marxist). A large pig stands in the street

A judicial system at the upper levels—the High Courts of the states and the Supreme Court in Delhi—is respected for administration of justice, though burdened by widespread inefficiency. Some cases take literally decades to decide. There is corruption at the lowest levels.

The players in the system have changed dramatically over the last sixty years. At present, in national elections, the Congress Party gets around a quarter of the vote, as does the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Parties powerful in only one state split the rest of the vote. There are hundreds of small parties and thousands of independent candidates, very few of whom win any seats.

Over time, more and more states have developed two-party systems, many of which have in fact two coalitions, but they are not necessarily the same two parties (or coalitions) that are competing. The Congress remains a force in almost all states, but the BJP’s strength is confined mostly to northern and western states. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has won every election in West Bengal since 1977, and in Tamil Nadu, the two major contestants are the two Tamil nationalist parties, the DMK and the AIADMK. Other major parties include the Socialist Party and the BSP—the party whose core is the people once considered outside and beneath the Hindu castes (the Untouchables), many of whom now use the term “dalit” (oppressed)—in Uttar Pradesh; the Akali Dal (party of the Sikhs) in Punjab; the cultural nationalist TDP in Andhra Pradesh; and the RJD (a middle-caste based party) in Bihar.

A pattern of instability in state governments after the 1967 election lasted about two decades. Now, it is not exceptional for state governments to last a full five-year term, and recently several have won re-election. This stability has helped state governments to become more active and effective promoters of programs in education and economic development; they now play the central government for resources rather than being manipulated, as in the past when their local political footing was less sure. Some instability associated with coalitions surfaced in Delhi after the 1989 election, when a coalition called the “Third Force” (i.e., neither Congress-led nor BJP-led) took power, but soon had to be rearranged. The same thing happened in 1996–98. The BJP-led coalition that won in 1998 came apart, but a new version won in 1999 and served a full term. The Congress-led coalition that won narrowly in 2004 has managed to stay together.

In sum, India appears to have a democracy that functions according to the rules. The country handles external and internal crises well, while accommodating new political leaders, movements, and patterns of political rule and opposition. The ordinary citizen has not been left out: turnout in elections has risen to a present-day figure of about fifty-five to sixty percent of eligible voters, and the percentage of women, people designated “tribal,” and other marginal groups has almost reached that of the population as a whole. Turnout percentages of poor and rural voters are significantly higher than the average Indian turnout.

Indian citizens show strong support for democracy. In the 2007 State of Democracy in South Asia report, ninety-two percent of a large survey sample believe democracy to be suitable for India; “strong democrats” outweigh “non-democrats” by forty-one to fifteen percent (with forty-three percent as “weak democrats”). 3 In Yogendra Yadav’s summation: “The idea of democracy has, above all, come to supply the only valid criterion for claims to legitimate rule and, correspondingly, the moral basis of political obligation.” 4

If this is all not an illusion, and India is indeed democratic, then it stands as a mammoth exception that tests our understanding of what makes countries democratic. India has features that most believe make democracy impossible. Although its economic growth in recent years has been high, India remains a very poor country with a per capita income well below the threshold that seemingly demarcates democracies from dictatorships. 5 It has a bewildering number of ethnic communities, separated by language, religion, and caste, with occasionally alarming incidents of inter-community violence. 6 Caste remains a major feature of the social and political landscape with its religiously-sanctioned inequality. India is usually ranked among the world’s worst countries when it comes to the prevalence of corruption. The military is strictly under civilian control, and, historically, has never been a threat to stage a coup. However, the military has been given power for significant periods and allowed to ignore normal legal processes in certain parts of the country, such as the northeastern border states, Punjab from 1984 to 1992, and Kashmir since 1989. Finally, it has a bureaucracy inherited from colonial rule that—in practice and in the attitudes of its officials—is often capricious, authoritarian, and almost impossible to hold accountable. 8

Image shows man and dog sleeping under a 1980 election-time wall poster of the CPI(M)

Clearly, there are also flaws, perhaps fatal flaws, in India’s democracy. Are those many elections truly free and fair, given that in each election there are reports of intimidation, forcible occupation of polling stations, and other irregularities? With literacy and significant education still at very low levels, how can citizens cast their votes effectively? Do programs and policies change meaningfully when new parties come to power? Doesn’t the weakness of the rule of law at the lowest level encourage criminalization of politics and increase the difficulty of bringing corrupt officials to justice? Are there not powerful landowning and other classes that dominate and control politics in Delhi, state capitals, and local arenas?

Let us sketch responses to these questions and link them, in general, to underlying anti-democratic features. To begin, let us consider the integrity of elections. An autonomous Election Commission, one of the most respected institutions in the country, conducts elections and its record has been remarkably good. The electoral registers the Commission compiles can be quite inaccurate, and may contain many names of those who have died or moved; other names are missing. However, political parties and ordinary citizens have ready access to the rolls and are able to challenge or add names. Currently the rolls are being computerized, and anyone with an Internet connection can check them. The Election Commission has a code of conduct for election campaigns that regulates the hours of public meetings, requires financial and criminal record disclosure by candidates, recognizes parties and assigns them symbols, and attempts to regulate expenditures. Although expenditure rules are routinely flouted, it is not clear that this affects the outcome. Early on, money to buy votes for particular leaders flowed quite freely, but as voters gained confidence that the ballot was truly secret, vote-buying produced unreliable results and became less important.

On polling days, the Election Commission has full authority to mobilize government employees, such as teachers and security forces, to conduct the election. Most elections have violent incidents, including murdering candidates and ballot box stuffing. These occurrences have declined in recent years, however, as security has tightened; polling is on multiple days for up to a month. In cases where an election has been “countermanded,” a fresh poll is held weeks later, with additional security—and invariably there is no further problem. Vote fraud still exists in a few areas, but even then affects only a small percent of the vote total. All voting is on Indian-designed and Indian-manufactured electronic machines. This has accelerated the vote count results, but even before these technological advances, elaborate procedures were in place to make sure ballot boxes were secure and votes counted fairly.

Uncontested elections are rare at national and state levels. The range in ideology, policy, and social base of the winning parties is quite large. Communists have ruled West Bengal for thirty years, and in Kerala, a Communist-led coalition has alternated with a Congress-led coalition for almost as long. There are parties with cultural nationalist agendas, religious parties, and parties centered on particular castes that have ruled solely, or in coalition, in many states and in Delhi.

Election campaigns are wide open and thoroughly reported in the press. Spirited discussions also occur on TV. Face-to-face contact of candidates with voters remains at the heart of the campaign, however, with countless speeches and snippets of discussions during the three-week, eighteen-hour day sprint to polling day. This lessens the significance of education. Male voters with little or no schooling are practiced in judging what a candidate says and remembering it. As a rule, women do not attend meetings or hear speeches, and if uneducated, they have more difficulty than peer males understanding issues. Still, considerable empirical evidence exists that regardless of gender, most people no longer vote according to the dictates of husbands, or caste leaders, or even those with economic power over them. The secret ballot makes an enormous difference.

Images shows a woman is putting paper into a box

People appear to act rationally when they vote—not wasting their vote on candidates who have no chance of winning. They frequently throw out incumbents (about fifty percent), and usually disregard boasts of accomplishments and promises of good things to come, such as roads, electricity, or fertilizer supply. Local issues count more than national issues, except in extraordinary elections like 1977. The poor value the vote as one of the very few ways they can exercise even the smallest amount of power. Typically, they are utterly dependent on their landlord or their boss in a shop, with no recourse to laws, or even public opinion, if they are made to work long hours without decent pay, let alone other benefits; they are often beaten. They have no influence when it comes to getting proper health care or other government benefits. But with the assurance of a secret ballot and usually an uncertainty about who is leading, they find rich and powerful candidates begging for their vote.

There are, of course, large numbers of poor people who vote, and in India, the voter turnout of the poor is now higher than that of the non-poor. The contrast becomes most clear when the very poor are compared to the very rich, or illiterates to college graduates. The reverse is true in developed countries, including the US.9 And they get results. The most recent example is the party that won the 2007 state assembly election in the giant state of Uttar Pradesh (185 million inhabitants), which is led by an ex-untouchable woman named Mayawati, who captured a majority of the seats—mainly with the votes of the poor. 10

India’s society is socially fragmented to a high degree. For example, even if we ignore the fact that Hindi, the national language, composed of mutually unintelligible dialects (in addition to literary and film dialogue forms), is spoken by a minority of Indians. In any given electoral constituency, with a few exceptions, no community, whether caste or religious, has a majority, so cross-caste, and often cross-religion alliances must be created to win. Some of these alliances are horizontal, with middle-level farmers uniting, while others are vertical, between landlord groups and their farm workers, for example. Caste and religious groups, especially in local arenas, are often divided into factions, which can further complicate support. In some villages, and even in larger areas, powerful men organize followers into armed gangs to intimidate the lower classes. In some areas (mainly in the tribal belt of east-central India), these oppressed people have been organized to resist by workers of a coalition of revolutionary parties. In most of India, however, politics of all kinds—including democratic electoral politics—is more a matter of shifting alliances, countervailing groups, and leader-follower relationships based on the personal characteristics of the leader.

Efforts to create class-like movements on a broader level—farmers’ movements, for example—have been unsuccessful, and the caste associations that became prominent in the early years of independence have faded from the scene. In no state, much less at the national level, are there institutions that pull together even economic interest groups for effective political action. There are multiple and competing business associations, and Communist, Congress, and BJP parties mainly control trade unions through affiliating federations. Feminist, environmental, and other social movements have some impact on politics, using such tools as demonstrations and litigation, but they usually steer clear of electoral politics. The rich, and even the urban middle classes, manage to advance and protect their interests in large measure through networks of kinship and common institutions, such as schools and colleges, social clubs, and professional associations. This form of interest group politics by well-positioned groups is typical of not only India, but of all democracies.

Corruption in the court and criminal justice systems most certainly distorts the rule of law and the implementation of government programs. Although many politicians have criminal cases pending against them, very few have been convicted and almost none have exhausted their appeals. The serious “mafias” (the word is used in India) that are involved in smuggling, illicit drugs, alcohol, and other protection or extortion rackets and that control politicians, exist in relatively few cities. In certain government departments, corruption is endemic— contractors and others pay bribes shared by officials and politicians who control their transfers and promotions. That said, the national scale or even state-level corruption in which policies are bought and sold is rare.

Democracy in India is not a façade behind which one finds dominant classes or other societal institutions that exercise power. India is not very different from other democracies in the extent to which the bureaucracy governs without much day-to-day accountability. Colonial rule was built on a very small, elite corps of administrators whose task was primarily to maintain order. When independence came, those who did not quit were allowed to continue, but they had to prove their loyalty to the new political order, and to the leaders they had put in jail just a few years before. At the same time, the tasks of government expanded enormously, as the promises in education, health care, and, most of all, economic development, required a much-enhanced bureaucratic apparatus. Unlike many Third World countries, the balance of power between elected politicians and bureaucrats in India favored the politicians, and that advantage has not been lost. 11

Photo shows a man climbing onto an elephant

In contrast to most post-colonial countries—Pakistan presents a particularly vivid comparison—India’s military has been kept firmly under civilian and political control. Because the military also needed to demonstrate their loyalty to the new political leaders, when fighting erupted with Pakistan in Kashmir at independence, and a border dispute with China in 1962 ended in war, the military had an important national security mission, which it had been taught, in the British tradition, would be undermined by involvement in politics. The Indian government also was aware of the need to keep the military budget firmly under civilian control. Coups in many Third World countries have been associated with armies controlled by particular, often minority ethnic communities. Although Punjabis, particularly Sikhs, were disproportionately represented in the army at independence, they were still a small minority, which was further diluted as the navy and air force expanded.

Most important, though, was the success of the Indian democratic system in resolving crises involving states with different languages and cultures, and dealing with the economic crisis of the mid-1960s. The army faced insurgencies in peripheral states, but never had to deal with a law and order problem the government could not handle. Each time the military was not called upon for domestic purposes—notably not even during the Emergency—the less likely the chance of subsequent intervention.

The absence of a military coup, or even the threat of one, is one explanation for why India remains a democracy. It is less clear why India has maintained a democracy while remaining below the theoretical threshold of development that many political scientists see as crucial for sustained democracy. Using quantitative data, scholars have shown that almost all countries at the lowest level of development are autocracies, and almost all countries at the highest level of development are democracies. Development that breaches the threshold does not necessarily produce democracy. However, when a high development country becomes democratic, it nearly always sustains its democracy.

Carles Boix and Susan Stokes make a persuasive argument that “democracy is caused not by income [the measure of development] per se but by other changes that accompany development, in particular, income equality.” 12 As India has developed, its inequality has increased only slightly and remains at the comparatively low figure, as measured by a Gini coefficient of consumption, of 30.5 in 2004–05. 13 Smaller Gini coefficients indicate greater equality of income and wealth distribution. Significantly, in the countryside, the small farmers have increased in number and in percent of landholdings at the expense of marginal farmers and large landowners. In urban India, the middle class has expanded at the most rapid rate, especially in recent years. India is exceptional in this as well: for example, the Gini indexes of Nigeria, China, and Brazil, are, respectively, thirtyfour percent, thirty-seven percent, and seventy-eight percent larger than India’s, which indicates substantially greater inequality. 14 It is quite possible that India’s democracy helps explain the difference. When the poor can vote effectively, government is more likely to ensure that they get a more substantial share of the benefits of development.

The income equality argument does not sufficiently explain why India was able to build a democracy when others failed. The best probable explanation of why India is democratic today is that it had a functioning democracy yesterday. Particularly for a country like India that is struggling to develop and manage huge societal and cultural change at the same time, the success of democracy builds on its ability to solve those problems, as demonstrated by its earlier successes. 15 The 1977 election, or possibly the first half of 1980, when Sanjay Gandhi seemed to be leading the Congress Party towards a more authoritarian program, marked crucial “roads not taken” moments. Before then, although democratic institutions had been established and worked effectively, there was a good chance democracy would break down. 16

Nehru’s personal role in setting India firmly on a democratic path has been noted, but Nehru himself got his opportunity from being the “first among equals” in the Congress movement that transformed itself into a party of governance. That nationalist movement is unique in the colonial era for its longevity, the depth and breadth of its roots in the populace, and the general extent to which it was internally democratic. Founded in 1885, for thirty-five years the Congress was essentially an annual gathering of the elite of India’s educated class who had petitioned the British to grant rights to their citizens in India. As the British resisted change, the Congress debated among themselves and demanded rights from the Raj. Then Gandhi transformed the Congress into a mass movement with a permanent governing body and a revolutionary constitution. He then led movements of civil disobedience in the early 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. Each of these drew in larger and larger numbers of followers. The new Congress organization ensured that they were represented in the highest councils by leaders with local support, as well as by Gandhian or other nationalist credentials. As a movement for independence, the Congress was inclusive and included rich and poor, socialists, and Hindu nationalists. Only those who rejected nonviolence were excluded. Gandhi’s respect for the rule of law was such that while he claimed to be the judge of which laws he would follow, he insisted that he be condemned in court for breaking those laws. Although Gandhi and his trusted lieutenants effectively ran the Congress from above, the annual sessions and the debates on policies were exercises in free speech.

The second leadership generational transfer brought Jawaharlal Nehru in, with Gandhi’s support, even though Nehru’s views on socialism and modernist development contradicted Gandhi’s own ideas favoring village-level economic self-sufficiency and the belief that the rich should hold property as “trustees” for the poor. Over generations, the Congress developed a style of leadership and internal functioning that fit well with democracy. It developed momentum derived from effective action with an unrivalled network of support that reached minorities, women, and the rural poor. These political attributes served India well when independence came in 1947.

If India had not begun with that precious inheritance, it is doubtful that its democracy would be the reality it is today. That reality is clear in the unwavering commitment to democratic practices, especially in elections, and in the effective control of the military and bureaucrats. With the exception of the Emergency of 1975–77, the crises in the federal system, the ethnic and revolutionary insurgencies, and wars with India’s neighbors have been handled without damaging the democratic system, although the government has been responsible for severe violations of civil rights in the localities concerned, some of them quite substantial states, like Punjab and Kashmir.

As in all democracies, groups and some individuals wield a very wide range of power vis-à-vis government, but even at the local level there are only a few places where landlords or dominant castes can consistently get their way. In state and national government, it is the political party system that shapes most policy—not big business, or external powers, or a religious institution. In recent decades, there has been an impressive mobilization of the poor and previously marginalized groups, including the lower castes and women, which has been reflected in voting, in participation in local government, and in the leadership that has come to power. If India continues to grow economically at a rapid pace, the final foundation piece for a stable democracy will soon be put in place.

Electoral Reforms in India

Last updated on May 27, 2024 by ClearIAS Team

Electoral reforms in India refer to the improvements and changes needed or proposed to enhance the electoral process’s transparency, efficiency, and fairness over the years. Read here to learn more about them.

Given the scale and complexity of conducting elections in the world’s largest democracy, continuous reforms are vital to address various challenges and uphold the integrity of the electoral system.

The history of electoral reforms in India is extensive, reflecting the continuous efforts to enhance elections’ fairness, transparency, and efficiency in the world’s largest democracy.

Table of Contents

Effective electoral reforms require robust legislative changes, active enforcement by institutions like the Election Commission of India, and participation from political parties, civil society, and the electorate.

The ongoing dialogue about these reforms is crucial for evolving and sustaining democracy in India.

Since gaining independence in 1947, India has made several significant amendments and reforms to its electoral processes to address various challenges and improve the electoral system.

Here is an overview of the key electoral reforms in India:

1950-1960s: Establishment and Early Reforms

1950: The Election Commission of India (ECI) was established under Article 324 of the Indian Constitution to administer and supervise all aspects of elections. The primary objective was to ensure free and fair elections.
1951-52: The first general elections were conducted, marking the implementation of universal adult suffrage without discrimination based on caste, religion, or gender.
1969: Model code of conduct was implemented

1970s-1980s: Reforms for Transparency and Integrity

1975: The period of Emergency in India led to significant concerns about the independence and fairness of the electoral process.
1982: The township of Paravur in Kerala saw the use of EVMs in the by-elections. However, the Supreme Court declared the election invalid following the absence of a law prescribing EVM.
1988: The Election Commission was made a multi-member body to ensure decisions were more balanced, and comprehensive.
This period also saw the introduction of the Anti-Defection Law (Tenth Schedule of the Constitution) to prevent political defections motivated by the lure of office or other similar considerations.
61 st Constitutional Amendment Act lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 years.

1990s: Technological Integration and Voter Inclusion

1993: Voter ID cards were introduced to curb electoral fraud and verify voter identity.
1998: Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were first used on an experimental basis to improve the accuracy of vote counting and reduce the instances of ballot box stuffing and booth capturing.

2000s: Strengthening Frameworks and Expanding Outreach

2000: The Representation of the People (Amendment) Act , 2000, was introduced, allowing Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to vote in their place of residence.
2004: The introduction of the “ None of the Above” (NOTA) option on EVMs provided voters the choice to reject all candidates if they were not satisfied with the options available.

2010s: Recent Developments

2010: Voting rights to Indian citizens living abroad.
2013: The Supreme Court of India directed that the use of NOTA should be implemented in all voting machines and ballots.
2016: The ECI introduced the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system with EVMs to provide a physical verification system for votes cast electronically, enhancing transparency in the electoral process.
2017: Electoral bonds were introduced.
2018: The ‘ Suvidha’ portal was launched, providing a single-window system for candidates and political parties to submit pre-certification and applications for various electoral services.

2020 and Beyond

Efforts to link Aadhaar with voter IDs to clean up electoral rolls and prevent voter fraud were proposed.
Additionally, the ECI has been exploring options to facilitate remote voting for domestic migrants and increased digitization for more efficient electoral management.
Right to Reject: The introduction of the ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA) option on EVMs was a step towards giving voters the right to reject all candidates if they are not satisfied with them. However, its impact remains limited as elections are still decided by the highest vote-getters, regardless of NOTA votes.
Dealing with Fake News: With the rise of social media, the spread of misinformation and fake news during election times has become a serious concern. Strengthening regulations and collaboration with tech companies to monitor and manage content during elections is critical.
2024: Home voting for people with disabilities and people above the age of 85 years.

Electoral Committees

India has seen the formation of various committees and commissions over the years to review and recommend improvements in the electoral process.

These bodies have played a crucial role in evolving and refining electoral laws and practices.

Dinesh Goswami Committee (1990)

Formed under the chairmanship of former Law Minister Dinesh Goswami, this committee made comprehensive recommendations on electoral reforms.
Key suggestions included limiting the size of election expenses, banning the use of government resources in campaigns, introducing voter IDs, and more transparent funding of political parties.

Tarkunde Committee (1975)

Also known as the Citizens’ Commission on Elections, this committee was led by Justice V. M. Tarkunde.
It made pioneering recommendations, including the introduction of proportional representation and state funding of elections.

Indrajit Gupta Committee (1998)

Chaired by former Home Minister Indrajit Gupta, this committee strongly advocated for state funding of elections to ensure a level playing field for all candidates and to combat the influence of wealthy donors and black money in politics.

Second Administrative Reforms Commission (2008)

This commission, chaired by Veerappa Moily, also touched upon electoral reforms in its recommendations.
It emphasized the need for greater transparency in campaign financing and suggested measures to strengthen the Election Commission.

Vohra Committee (1993)

Although not directly related to electoral reforms, the Vohra Committee Report dealt with the criminalization of politics and its nexus with organized crime, which indirectly influences electoral integrity.

Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee (2002)

This committee was tasked with reviewing the workings of the electoral trust scheme, which was a significant aspect of political funding reforms.

Law Commission Reports

The Law Commission of India, through its 170th Report (1999) and 255th Report (2015), made extensive recommendations on electoral reforms.
These reports addressed issues such as the appointment of election commissioners, the decriminalisation of politics, regulation of political parties, and electoral finance reforms.

Election Commission Proposals and Internal Committees

Over the years, the Election Commission itself has proposed numerous changes to improve the electoral process, based on internal reviews and the work of various advisory committees.
These include reforms in electoral rolls, polling procedures, EVM (Electronic Voting Machine) management, and more recently, the linking of Aadhaar with voter IDs to clean up electoral rolls.

Throughout its history, electoral reforms in India have aimed to enhance democratic governance by making the electoral process more inclusive, transparent, and technologically advanced.

The ECI continues to adapt and innovate to meet the challenges of conducting elections in such a vast and diverse nation.

Simultaneous elections
AI in elections
Cross-voting in elections
Green elections
Political party system
Inner party democracy
Alternative voting methods in India

-Article by Swathi Satish

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Social Justice

Make Your Note

Reservation in India

24 Jul 2019
15 min read
GS Paper - 2
Social Empowerment
Issues Related to SCs & STs
Government Policies & Interventions

Introduction

The age-old caste system of India is responsible for the origination of the reservation system in the country.
In simple terms, it is about facilitating access to seats in the government jobs, educational institutions, and even legislatures to certain sections of the population.
These sections have faced historical injustice due to their caste identity.
As a quota based affirmative action, the reservation can also be seen as positive discrimination.
In India, it is governed by government policies backed by the Indian Constitution.

Historical Background

William Hunter and Jyotirao Phule in 1882 originally conceived the idea of caste-based reservation system.
The reservation system that exists today, in its true sense, was introduced in 1933 when British Prime-Minister Ramsay Macdonald presented the ‘Communal Award’.
The award made provision for separate electorates for Muslims, Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians, Europeans and the Dalits.
After long negotiations, Gandhi and Ambedkar signed the ‘Poona Pact’, where it was decided that there would be a single Hindu electorate with certain reservations in it.
After independence, initially reservations were provided only for SCs and STs.
OBCs were included in the ambit of reservation in 1991 on the recommendations of the Mandal Commission.

Mandal Commission

In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 340 of the Constitution, the President appointed a backward class commission in December 1978 under the chairmanship of B. P. Mandal.
The commission was formed to determine the criteria for defining India’s “socially and educationally backward classes” and to recommend steps to be taken for the advancement of those classes.
The Mandal Commission concluded that India’s population consisted of approximately 52 percent OBCs, therefore 27% government jobs should be reserved for them.
The commission has developed eleven indicators of social, educational, and economic backwardness.
Apart from identifying backward classes among Hindus, the Commission has also identified backward classes among non-Hindus (e.g., Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and Buddhists.
It has generated an all-India other backward classes (OBC) list of 3,743 castes and a more underprivileged “depressed backward classes” list of 2,108 castes.
In the Indra Sawhney Case of 1992, the Supreme Court while upholding the 27 percent quota for backward classes,struck down the government notification reserving 10% government jobs for economically backward classes among the higher castes.
Supreme Court in the same case also upheld the principle that the combined reservation beneficiaries should not exceed 50 percent of India’s population.
The concept of ‘creamy layer’ also gained currency through this judgment and provision that reservation for backward classes should be confined to initial appointments only and not extend to promotions.
Recently, the Constitutional (103 rd Amendment) Act of 2019 has provided 10% reservation in government jobs and educational institutions for the “economically backward” in the unreserved category.
The Act amends Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution by adding clauses empowering the government to provide reservation on the basis of economic backwardness.
This 10% economic reservation is over and above the 50% reservation cap.

Constitutional Provisions Governing Reservation in India

Part XVI deals with reservation of SC and ST in Central and State legislatures.
Article 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution enabled the State and Central Governments to reserve seats in government services for the members of the SC and ST.
The Constitution was amended by the Constitution (77 th Amendment) Act, 1995 and a new clause (4A) was inserted in Article 16 to enable the government to provide reservation in promotion.
Later, clause (4A) was modified by the Constitution (85 th Amendment) Act, 2001 to provide consequential seniority to SC and ST candidates promoted by giving reservation.
Constitutional 81 st Amendment Act, 2000 inserted Article 16 (4 B) which enables the state to fill the unfilled vacancies of a year which are reserved for SCs/STs in the succeeding year, thereby nullifying the ceiling of fifty percent reservation on total number of vacancies of that year.
Article 330 and 332 provides for specific representation through reservation of seats for SCs and STs in the Parliament and in the State Legislative Assemblies respectively.
Article 243D provides reservation of seats for SCs and STs in every Panchayat.
Article 233T provides reservation of seats for SCs and STs in every Municipality.
Article 335 of the constitution says that the claims of STs and STs shall be taken into consideration constituently with the maintenance of efficacy of the administration.

Judicial Scrutiny of Reservation

The State of Madras v. Smt.Champakam Dorairajan (1951) case was the first major verdict of the Supreme Court on the issue of Reservation.The case led to the First amendment in the constitution.
The Supreme Court in the case pointed out that while in the case of employment under the State, Article 16(4) provides for reservations in favour of backward class of citizens, no such provision was made in Article 15.
Pursuant to the Supreme Court’s order in the case the Parliament amended Article 15 by inserting Clause (4).
In Indra Sawhney v. Union of India (1992) case the court examined the scope and extent of Article 16(4).
The Court has said that the creamy layer of OBCs should be excluded from the list of beneficiaries of reservation, there should not be reservation in promotions; and total reserved quota should not exceed 50%.
The Parliament responded by enacting 77 th Constitutional Amendment Act which introduced Article 16(4A).
The article confers power on the state to reserve seats in favour of SC and ST in promotions in Public Services if the communities are not adequately represented in public employment.
The SC and ST community should be socially and educationally backward.
The SC and ST communities are not adequately represented in Public employment.
Such reservation policy shall not affect the overall efficiency in the administration.
In Jarnail Singh vs Lachhmi Narain Gupta case of 2018, Supreme Court holds that reservation in promotions does not require the state to collect quantifiable data on the backwardness of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.
The Court held that creamy layer exclusion extends to SC/STs and, hence the State cannot grant reservations in promotion to SC/ST individuals who belong to the creamy layer of their community.
In May 2019 the Supreme Court upheld the Karnataka law that allows reservations in promotions for SCs and STs with consequential seniority.

Why reservation needed?

To correct the historical injustice faced by backward castes in the country.
To provide a level playing field for backward section as they can not compete with those who have had the access of resources and means for centuries.
To ensure adequate representation of backward classes in the services under the State.
For advancement of backward classes.
To ensure equality as basis of meritocracy i.e all people must be brought to the same level before judging them on the basis of merit.

Argument Against Reservation

Reservation in state services led to divisions and enmity among government employees, vitiating the atmosphere at workplace.
Eradication, not perpetuation of caste was the objective of the reservation policy but Caste Based Reservation only perpetuate the notion of caste in society.
Reservation was introduced to ensure that the historically underprivileged communities were given equal access to resources but irrespective of the economic progress they continue to remain socially disadvantaged.
Reservation destroys self-respect, so much so that competition is no longer on to determine the best but the most backward.
Reservations are the biggest enemy of meritocracy which is the foundation of many progressive countries.
It has became a tool to meet narrow political ends through invoking class loyalties and primordial identities.
The dominant and elite class within the backward castes has appropriated the benefits of reservation and the most marginalised within the backward castes have remained marginalised.
Reservation has become the mechanism of exclusion rather than inclusion as many upper caste poors are also facing discrimination and injustice which breeds frustration in the society.

Reasons Behind Increasing Demands of Reservation

Reservation is increasingly seen as a remedy for the adverse effects of ill-thought out development policies.
Acute agrarian distress,
Stagnation in employment growth and
Distortions in the development trajectory.
In this backdrop, for governments, it is easier to talk of reservation than to make a course correction.
Increasing reservation demands among upper castes also arising from the fear of losing privilege and the inability to cope with change
Upper castes have begun to feel disadvantaged especially in context of government jobs as they don’t get similar advantages like backward classes.
The reservation benefits should flow to the vast majority of underprivileged children from deprived castes; not to a few privileged children with a caste tag.
High ranks officials families, high income professionals and others above a certain income should not get the reservation benefits especially in government jobs.
Fair and practical ways to help needy person from each community through reservation is possible and necessary.
The process of reservation should filter the truly economically deprived individuals and bring them all to justice
Revolutionary changes in the education system at the grass-roots level is need of the hour.
There is also need for awareness generation because while the unreserved segments, keep on opposing the provision, the neediest sections from within the reserved segments are hardly aware about how to get benefited from the provision or even whether there are such provisions exists.
The radical solutions like excluding the entire creamy layer among all castes from reservation and developing their capabilities instead of offering them reservation for admission to higher education or jobs on a platter.

Way Forward

Reservation is fair, as far as it provides appropriate positive discrimination for the benefit of the downtrodden and economically backward Sections of the society.
But when it tends to harm the society and ensures privileges to some at the cost of others for narrow political ends, it should be done away with, as soon as possible.
The communities excluded from reservations harbour animosity and prejudice against the castes included in the reservation category.
When more people aspire for backwardness rather than of forwardness, the country itself stagnates.
Meritocracy should not be polluted by injecting relaxation of entry barriers, rather than it should be encouraged by offering financial aid to the underprivileged.
A strong political will is indispensable to find an equilibrium between justice to the backwards, equity for the forwards and efficiency for the entire system.

Essay on the Political Parties in India

In this essay we will discuss about the political parties in India. After reading this essay you will learn about: 1. Introduction to Political Parties in Indian Political System 2. Political Parties in India 3. Indian National Congress 4. Party after Nehru 5. Policies and Programmes of the Congress 6. Janata Party 7. Communist Party of India 8. Bhartiya Janata Party 9. Lok-Dal 10. Janata Dal and Other Details .

List of Essays on the Political Parties in India

Essay Contents:

Essay on the Problems of Political Parties

1. Essay on the Introduction to Political Parties in Indian Political System:

All over the world where there is a democratic way of governing the people, political parties play a very big role. These are the heaviest political weight, along with pressure groups and their role, importance and significance can in no way be under-estimated. In a country there can be single as well as multiple political party system.

A single political party being understood to mean a party system in which all members think alike. They follow a leader and have a uniform programme and line of action for achieving that. On the other hand multi-party system is one in which there is more than one political party, each having its programme of action as well as method of achieving the goals which it has set before itself.

For our discussion, a political party means to be a group of persons who have common ideology, follow a common programme and common line of action. In the party there is uniformity of action and approach. It should be well organised and a good political party is supposed to have disciplined membership.

Every political party obviously tries to capture political power and enlightens the people about failings and falterings of the party in power. A good political party is supposed to have national policies and programmes and tries to meet requirements of all sections of society without any reservations.

But most important thing about a political party is that it should adopt only constitutional means and methods for achieving its objectives.

A political party may conveniently be defined as a body of men who have united for promoting, by their collective efforts, upon some principles to which they have all agreed. According to Maclver a political party is an association organised in support of some principles or policies which by constitutional means it endeavours to make the deteiminant of government.

Prof. Leacock is of the view that it is a more or less organised group of citizens who act together as a political unit. It is always a voluntary organisation and is formed by those who hold common views on certain basic political issues.

It should be organised and its members must be prepared to follow certain well established rules and also believe in peaceful and constitutional methods. Its object should be to capture political power.

2. Essay on the Political Parties in India:

Political party system in India has its own background. The origin of the system can be traced back to 1885 when Indian National Congress was founded. It discussed national political and economic issues though at the initial stages its aim was not to capture political power. Its aim was get certain political reforms from foreign masters.

The party, however, got divided into two parts namely the Moderates and the Extremists. Almost at all same time, Sir Sayyed Ahmad Khan tried to bring the Muslims together under an umbrella named Muslim League.

The aim of the party was to protect political rights of the Muslims. As a reaction the Hindus formed Hindu Maha Sabha. Subsequently such political parties as the Justice Party,. The Krishak Praja Party, The Scheduled Caste Party, the Unionist Party, etc., were formed. But smelly speaking none of the parties was strictly speaking a political party because none aimed at capturing power but only to have some representation in the Government.

In India political parties can be placed under various categories. Broadly speaking, these are (a) National, regional, local and adhoc. At the national level some parties are secular and without any ideological commitment e.g., Indian National Congress, including Congress (I), Janata Dal, Janata Party, etc. Then at the national level are ideologically committed rightist and leftist parties.

In the former category can be placed Bhartiya Janata Party and Bhartiya Lok Dal whereas in the latter category fall both the Communist parties. Then there are regional parties both communal and non-communal. Communal Regional parties include Akali Dal, Indian Union Muslim League, etc.

Non-communal regional parties include Peasants and Workers Party, Maharashtra Gomantak Party, Forward Bloc etc. Then there are political parties which have their influence in a particular area e.g., Jharkhand party, Manipur People’s Party, Naga National Convention, Sikkim Sangram Parishad.

Then come adhoc and fringe parties in which are covered parties like Ram Rajya Parishad, All India Bhartiya Jan Sangh, Congress (O) and Hindu Mahasabha.

The days of communal parties in India are almost over because under the new rules each political party is to amend its Constitution in such a way as to, provide that it believes in secularism, socialism and in the unity and integrity of the country. Only after the party accepts these basic conditions that the Election Commission will register it for contesting elections, and not otherwise.

In India a national party means a political party which has the support of 4% of the electorate in any four states. It has organisational set which spreads in many parts of the country. On the other hand a regional party is ooe which has its hold in a particular region. The activities of a local party are confined to a particular area and does not spread beyond that.

Indian National Congress (I), Janata Party, Janata Dal, Bhartiya Janata Party and CP I and CPI (M) fall under the category of national parties. These were so recognised by the Election Commission in 1992.

National Conference has its influence in J&K, Akali Dal in Punjab, All India Muslim League and Kerala Congress in Kerala; DMK & AIADMK in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, Naga National Party in Nagaland; Republican par. Maharashtra; Forward Bloc in West Bengal; Telugu Desham in Andhra-pradesh and so on.

In fact, the number of political parties and groups in the country runs into hundreds. Some other regional parties include Assam; Gan Parihad in Assam, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in Bihar; Maharashtra a wadi Goamantak Party in Goa; Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party in U.P.; Sikkim Sangram Parishad in Sikkim; Mizo National Front in Mizoram; Shiv Sena in Maharashtra etc.

Main Features of Political Party System in India:

In India there is multi-party system. As already said the number of political parties and groups runs into hundreds and new parties are also coming up. The increase in members is because some political leaders who get dissatisfied with the existing parties form a new party, though not with an absolutely new programme.

Those communities which have good numerical strength also form political parties. Political parties are formed to exploit regional and communal feelings. Adult franchise is one important cause responsible for multiparty system in India. Some political parties are formed around election lime to have some share in political power. These disappear as soon as elections are over, if they fail to achieve anything.

Then another feature is that in the country even now to an extent there is single party dominant system. In spite of the fact that in the country there are very many political parties, yet Congress (I) still dominates both at the centre as well as in many of the states.

Some states, of course, have Non-Congress (I) governments but hold of the Congress party over the country is very strong. The party has remained in power at the Centre all along except the brief periods during 1977-79 and 1989. But because of internal bickering party has seen many splits and created problems for leadership.

Still another feature is that member of political parties do not observe strict party discipline. There are always cases of taking disciplinary action and expelling rebel members from the party. Indisciplined members of one party are happily accepted by the other.

It was because of this indiscipline that defections became quite common and Anti-Defection Act had to be passed. Even in the party itself leader of the party is disobeyed.

In India the role of regional political parties has considerably increased. In several states regional political parties have already come to power, while in others leadership is trying to fully exploit regional feelings. In fact, after the fall of government in 1979 many political parties had predicted that era of coalition governments at the Centre has ushered and regional political parties will have big role to play at the Centre.

Telugu Desham Party is in power in Andhra Pardesh; AIADM in Tamil Nadu, etc.

Then another feature of political party system in India is that most of the parties are not well organised. The elections of office bearers are not held for years together and they are nominated by the party President. Part) High Command which performs all those functions which elected office bearers should perform.

Though the constitution of India prohibits the exploitation religion, caste, community and region for political parties and during election times but that is very much exploited by all political parties in one form or the other.

Then one finds that though the number of political parties is increasing year after year yet their programmes only marginally differ. On the whole basic ideology i.e., secularism, socialism, non-alignment, federal system. etc., remain unchanged. The choice of the voters, therefore, remains very limited.

Then because of large number of political parties on the one hand and apathy of masses towards political parties, doubts about sincerity of their promises, non-implementation of their election manifestoes, less political consciousness of votes in the rural areas, lack of interests in political affairs by urban elites has resulted in low membership of political parties.

Political parties financially are not very sound except those parties which can manage funds by underhand means or which the business community feels can capture power either at the centre or in any state.

In every political party there is great importance of the leader. A popular and dynamic leader can take the party to height of its glory. If the Congress party has survived and played a very significant role in Indian political life, it is because it could have the privilege of having dynamic and towering personalities like Jawahar Lal Nehru, Smt. Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi as Prime Ministers.

The opposition parties are still in wilderness because these have failed to produce a national leader, who can bring round all political parties, though now there is awareness about opposition unity which was considerably achieved during 1989 elections. But that did not last long and the government could remain in power only for one year.

A disturbing feature of Indian political party system is that gradually some political parties are keeping party interests above national interests. Thus a political party is becoming more important than the nation as a whole. All important posts, both in the government and public sector undertakings, are offered to loyal political workers.

Political bosses, in several cases compel civil servant to toe their line of action and go out of the way to help their favourites.

Thus, on the whole in India political party system is not developing on very healthy lines. Unless some healthy code of conduct for all political parties is prepared and implemented, the chances of improvement of the system are very remote.

It is encouraging that Election Commission is now laying stress on strict implementation of code of conduct and made it clear to all political parties that during 1996 Lok Sabha and six slate Assemblies elections this code will be very strictly observed. In actual practice it also very strictly enforced that as well.

Under the Representation of People’s Act each political party is required to register itself with the Election Commission. It can also be withdrawn at any time due to failure to observe the code of conduct, refusal to observe lawful directions and instructions, etc., of the Commission. Before withdrawal of recognition, however, political party in question is given an opportunity to explain as position.

3. Essay on the Indian National Congress :

In India since independence Indian National Congress has been a single dominant political party. It continued to dominate Indian political scene to 1967, when its hold somewhat weakened. In 1971, the hold of the party became again strong. But in 1977 the party lost not only at the centre but also in many northern Indian states, where Janata party came to power.

In 1980 and 1984 elections Congress (I) again got itself saddled in power and authority. In 1989, the party again lost its hold at the Centre, where National Front government came to power. During 1991 the party was returned as the single largest party in the Lok Sabha and formed minority government but in December 1993 when Ajit singh with his followers joined the party, it became a majority government under P.V. Narsimaha Rao.

This single dominant party system has done some good to the country. It was due to this that political stability came in the country, which otherwise the nation would have lost. But at the same time the Congress-men took it for granted that India was for them to be governed and this created many problems as well.

The history of the Congress party is in itself full of many events. There have been splits after splits in the party. Each split of course weakened the party and some of the political parties even find their origin from the main Congress organisation.

Even Janata party which dislodged; Congress from power at the Centre in 1977 had under its folds many Congressmen. So is true about National Front which formed government at the Centre in’ 1989. The history of this old party which maximum influenced political life of India can broadly be studied under two broad head namely: (a) history of the party from the beginning till today and (b) its policies and programmes.

The party which was founded in 1885 led the nation to the threshold of freedom in 1947. It was responsible for piloting several movements like Civil Disobedience; Non-Co-operation and Quit India. The Britishers transferred power to this party, as at that time it was sole political party which represented Indian masses-Muslim League having gone out of picture after the formation of independence and sovereign state of Pakistan.

The party had then under its folds all political leaders of national importance like Jawahar Lal Nehru, Mualana Abul Kalam Azad, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, Pt. Govind Ballah Pant, and so on. It had the guardianship of Mahatma Gandhi.

The Mahatma, however, suggested at the time of independence that the Congress should be disbanded and it should not enter in political arena, but thus advice of the old man was not heard by those who were influential in the party.

History of Congress Party:

History of Congress party can broadly be characterised as that of splits and divisions on the one hand and that of India’s freedom struggle and nation’s progress and advancement on the other. These splits occurred primarily because, though theoretically it was one party, yet practically it was party of parties. In its fold were people of all shades and all sections of Indian society, who had conflicting and contradicting interests and view points.

The organisation had both the socialists as well as capitalists. In the party were conservatives as well as liberals, orthodox as well those who wanted to being about radical changes in the country as well as in the party.

The party had in its fold both the working classes and employers and the people belonging to all castes and communities. In such an organisation splits were likely to come because there was bound to be struggle for supremacy within the party itself on the one hand and between the party and the government on the other.

Differences in the party started just three months after independence when Congress President Acharya J.B. Kriplani resigned on the plea that he was not being consulted on important matters by the then Prime Minister. These deepened when Nehru’s choice of C. Raja Gopalachari as first President of the Republic and that of Kirplani as Congress President were not accepted and instead Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Purshottam Das Tandon were respectively elected as President of India and Congress party President respectively.

Differences so much deepened that in July 1951, both Nehru and Azad resigned from Congress Working Committee as they could not reconcile to the idea of Tandon being the Party President. In October of the same year the latter also resigned from party presidentship.

Infighting in the party continued when in 1950 some dissatisfied Congress members under the leadership of Acharya Kriplani fomied a Democratic Group within the party. The aim of the group was to check increasing corruption. Subsequently this group called itself as Congress Democratic Party. This indiscipline came down to the state level, when some party members in U.P. were expelled from the party and they formed People’s Congress Party.

In West Bengal P.C. Ghosh and his associates formed Krishak Praja Mazdoor Party with the object of forming a classless non-exploiting democracy. Meanwhile there was mounting criticism within the party that the Congressmen had become corrupt and a demand was made that a high power commission should be set up to investigate charges of corruption against Ministers and public servants.

In 1963, several Congressmen in different states levied charges of corruption against their own Chief Ministers.

There were serious allegations of corruption against the then Chief Ministers i.e., Pratap Singh Kairon, Bakshi Gulam Muhammad, Biju Pattnaik and some others. The pressure so much mounted that Das Commission was set up to investigate charges of corruption against Pratap Singh Kairon.

There was not only indiscipline in the party but allegations of corruption, nepotism, bribery, etc., were also eating the party from the very roots. There were serious internal differences in the party at every level. In 1955, the party directed all state units that everything should be done to check indiscipline and maintain purity in party ranks.

In 1958, party decided that no party President or General Secretary shall hold office for more than two years. The party became a source of attack by the opposition parties as well.

There was increasing feeling in the party that degeneration had started in the party because all important party persons had joined or were keen to join the government, both in the states and also at the centre.

Accordingly in 1963, Kamraj plan was given to the party which provided that the Prime Minister should spare some party colleagues holding ministerial offices, both at the centre and in the states, who should take up party work and bring new life in the organisation. In accordance with the scheme several important leaders were drafted for party work.

4. Essay on the Party after Nehru:

In 1964, Jawahar Lal Nehru died and struggle in the party became more tens. It was a time when prices were rising and the people had not forgotten Indiaâ€™s debacle in war against China for which many had held Nehru responsible. But even then Nehru was undisputed leader of India on the one hand and Congress party on the other.

After his death Lal Bahadur Shastri succeeded him, as a Prime Minister, presumably he was considered light political weight. After Shastri’s death on January 11, 1966 struggle for supremacy in the party again started and this time leadership preferred Smt Indira Gandhi, as nation’s Prime Minister over Morarji Desai; again perhaps considering him a light political weight.

But soon she also proved to be heavy political weight and differences between the Prime Minister and Party President developed. In 1967, fourth general election were to be held in the country. At that tune party was completely disorganised. In every state where were dissidents who had left the party and joined opposition parties, thereby strengthening their hands and position.

Charges of corruption were frequently levied against Ministers and highly placed public servants. The performance of the party was found quite unsatisfactory both on social and economic fronts. There was acute struggle for leadership and for grabbing more and more powers.

The result of all this was that party received serious setback in 1967 elections. It had much reduced strength in the Lok Sabha and lost majority in seven states, where opposition parties formed government. In the party itself serious rifts came and within the party younger elements formed Congress Socialist Forum and called themselves as ‘Young Turks’.

In order to win the confidence of the people the Congress party gave ten point programme which among other things promised minimum needs for the community.

But even that did not satisfy the party workers, particularly the younger elements who wanted that the task of economic development on the one hand and that of uprooting corruption on the other should be speeded up.

These elements wanted that maximum responsibility should be thrown on the public sector, whereas in April 1969, party chief at working committee meeting held in that mouth at Faridabad lashed at the inefficiency of that sector and impatience with which some party members wanted to introduce progressive measures.

But Prime Minister openly opposed the views of party chief. The Young Turks in the party sent a paper to the party chief on July 7, 1969, in which they wanted to be considered at the AICC session schedule to be held at Bangalore from 10 to 13 July, 1969. They wanted rapid economic changes and proposed nationalisation of banking and insurance companies and putting ceiling on incomes and holdings of urban properties.

They suggested progressive rate of taxation and checks on unproductive expenses. Another suggestion made was that the assistance given to the monopoly houses by the government should be converted into equity holdings and social efforts should be made to finance new entrepreneurs in the less developed regions.

The party was thus divided into two groups. One the one hand, were those who wanted radical reforms whereas on the others were those who wanted to go slow. The Prime Minister sided with the former and the Congress President with the latter who did not favour bank nationalisation.

Though compromise was reached at the session, yet a few days later Prime Minister divested Morarji Desai of his finance portfolio. Efforts made by party President to get back finance portfolio for him failed. It was the time when Banking Nationalisation Act was passed. It was also the time when election of the office of the President of India were going to be held. Congress party had fielded Neelam Sanjiva Reddy as its Candidate. The Prime Minister almost made it clear that her supporters might not vote for official candidate for Presidentship of India.

When Congress President and his supporters found that the Prime Minister was in no reconciling mood, many of her former supporters started propaganda campaign against her.

There were accusations and counter-accusations. All efforts to bring about a compromise failed. AICC was convened on November 22-23, 1969 to discuss political and economic situation in the country. The Congress Working Committee removed Mrs. Gandhi from primary membership of the party. In this way first split took place in the organisation.

Those who did not belong to Prime Minister’s group in the Parliament began to be called as Congress (Opposition). They were headed by Dr. Ram Subbhag Singh. Prime Minister’s group met, as scheduled in New Delhi and passed a resolution removing Mr. Nijalingappa from the party Presidentship and instead elected C. Subramaniam, as interim President.

She had on her side 441 elected and 54 nominated members of AICC, as against 246 elected and 40 nominated ones with Congress (O).

Towards Second Split:

After 1969 split, Congress party government headed by Mrs. Gandhi was surviving with the co-operation of other parties and as such she was feeling uncomfortable. In 1971, she recommended the dissolution of the Lok Sabha and mid-term polls were fixed for the same year. Congress (O) had an alliance with socialist and rightist parties and propagated that the Prime Minister had dictatorial tendencies.

Prime Minister’s group had some sort of alliance with leftist groups.

As a result of elections, Mrs. Gandhi’s party won two-third majority in the Lok Sabha, whereas Congress (O) was almost completely disowned by the people. Shortly elections were also held in the states and there also party came to power in many states and that too with comfortable majority.

This very much enhanced party’s prestige and honour in the eyes of the public. The party won the confidence of the people by such programmes as ‘bank nationalisation, abolition of privy purses and by winning Bangladesh war’.

But soon conflicts in the party again started. Young Turks in the Congress party were getting impatient and wanted that central and state governments should speedily implement economic programmes. They organised themselves into ‘Forum for Socialist Action’ and started strongly criticising the government for the delays on many economic fronts.

They wanted immediate land reform legislation and complete take over of foodgrain trade. In order to counter their activities, All India Nehru Study Forum was founded by some other party members which asserted that socialist forum was opposed to basic Congress policies and programmes.

While at the centre all this was going on in the states the situation was much worse. There was no Congress ruled state in which there were no ns and frictions. Every state was a house divided in itself and there were several strong persons who were contenders for power. The situation in the states was in no way satisfactory.

It was feared by party leadership that in case situation was not immediately brought under control worse could happen. In April 1973, in a bid to save the situation, Prime Minister issued a stem warning to the members that no indiscipline in the party would be tolerated at any cost.

At a point of time Dinesh Singh, a close associate of Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, was expelled from the party and so happened with former Gujarat Chief Minister, Chemabhai Patel. Both were expelled from party on account of party indiscipline. It was under these circumstances that in 1975 emergency was declared in the country.

During this period there were no instances of party indiscipline. But soon after the lifting of emergency elections were announced. Not much later Jagjiwan Ram, H.N. Bahuguna, Mrs. Nandim Satpathy and many other senior Congress leaders left the party.

Whereas some joined newly formed Janata party, the others joined Congress for Democracy founded by Jagjiwan Ram, which subsequently merged itself with the Janata Party. In this way Congress was further sub-divided in 1977.

Third split:

As a result of 1977 elections Congress party led by Mrs. Gandhi heavily lost in the elections. The party lost majority in the Lok Sabha and for the first time a non-Congress government came to power at the centre and many states in North India.

Many members of the party held Mrs. Indira Gandhi and caucus responsible for the failure of the party at the polls and several MPs and MLAs resigned from the party and joined either Janata or other opposition parties.

There were also allegations that Mrs. Gandhi was trying to perpetuate dynastic rule by bringing her son late Sanjay Gandhi on political fore-front. It was also alleged that during emergency crimes were committed against masses which had brought disrepute to the party. But Prime Minister refuted all these charges. Some of the members of the party, however, continued to levy these charges.

They charged her with ruling as dictator and resented the importance which late Sanjay Gandhi was being given in the party. Since there was no compromise on the issue and every clarification given by Smt. Indira Gandhi and her colleagues did not satisfy the dissatisfied members, they decided to leave her and there was another split in the party at that time.

Thereafter there were again differences either in one group of the Congress or the other. Those who continued to stay with Mrs. Gandhi organised themselves into a separate party called Congress (I). The other who left elected Swaran Singh as their President and the party was called Congress (S).

Fourth split:

Dev Raj Urs the then Chief Minister of Karnataka had been a strong supporter of Mrs. Gandhi. In 1979, he also could not reconcile himself to the importance which late Sanjay Gandhi was getting both in the party and outside. He and his supporters felt that they were being humiliated and underestimated in the party.

He also talked of dictatorial tendencies of Mrs. Gandhi. He called upon Congressmen who had left the Congress party to come and join it again. Dev Raj Urs left Mrs. Gandhi and subsequently was elected as Congress President. Among his supporters were Y.B. Chavan, Swaran Singh, Karan Singh and so on. His party after his name began to be called Congress (U).

As a result of 1980 elections, Congress (I) was returned to power and many Congressmen who bad left her again joined the organisation and promised to allow her policies and programmes. Her opponents in the party received serious setback. She established her absolute supremacy both in the government and the party.

In 1984, general elections were again held in the country. Congress (I) under the leadership of her son Rajiv Gandhi was returned to the Lok Sabha by three-fourths majority. He established his absolute control over the government and the party. The party, however, lost at the Centre in 1989 elections.

As a result of elections held in 1991 Congress (I) formed government at the Centre with P.V. Narsimha Rao as Prime Minister. But his senior cabinet colleague, Arjun Singh did not see eye to eye with the Prime Minister who was also party President.

The differences were so sharp that he along with another senior party leader Narain Datt Tiwari left the party in 1995 and formed a new party called Indira Congress (Tiwari). But their leaving the party had not much impact either on the party or on the government.

In March 1996 elections for eleventh Lok Sabha were announced, when some prominent leaders left the party. A senior Minister of Rao government Madhav Rao formed a new party called Madhya Pardesh Vikas Congress. P.Chitambaram, another Minister decided to contest election not on the ticket of Congress (I) because of party decision to have electoral alliance with AIADMK in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.

He joined hands with DMK and formed new party called T.M.C. In fact several congress leaders left the party. Former senior leaders N.D. Tiwari and Arjun Singh formed a new party called Indra Congress (Tiwari).

The performance of the congress party in 1996 General elections and six state Assembly elections has been very poor. It could get only 135 seats in the Lok Sabha and thus went out of power. It also lost majority in the states of Harayana and Kerala which it was in power before the elections were held. The party even did not remain as the largest opposition party in the state.

5. Essay on the Policies and Programmes of Congress:

Congress is one of the oldest political organisation in the country. From its very inception, it has committed itself to end poverty and improve economic lot of the people. But the task is in no way easy. The problems before the organisations, after independence being (a) whether the party should encourage public or private sector or follow policy of mixed economy in which both the sectors should be allowed to go together, (b) whether there should be planned or unplanned economy; (c) whether there should be stress on small-scale or large-scale industry; (d) whether there should be agricultural or industrial economy and so on. The Congress, when it was united had the following salient or significant features.

The Congress party at its Avadi Session held in 1955 made it amply clear that main aim and objective of the party was to establish socialistic pattern of society. The party decided in favour of planned economy in which both the public and private sectors would be allowed to work together for economic development.

There will be equality of opportunity for all and all distinctions on the basis of caste and creed will be removed. Concentration of wealth in few hands will be removed and all regional and economic disparities will be removed.

Agriculture will be given maximum attention and agriculturists will be paid fully for their produce and labour. Both small- and large-scale industries will be given due encouragement. There will be decentralisation of economic and political power.

Efforts will be made to provide employment to maximum number of people and both poverty and unemployment will be ended at the earliest. Efforts will also be made to get self-sufficiency in basic industries and country’s imports will be reduced to the minimum.

In the field of foreign affairs the party stands for non-alignment and remaining away from power blocs. It believes that no country in the world has a right to interfere in the domestic affairs of any other country. The party also believes that world bodies should be given maximum co-operation and every international problem should be solved by peaceful means and methods.

On Gandhian principles, the party believes in non-violence and encouragement to small-scale and cottage industries on the one hand and co-operative farming on the other.

Though basically the party remains committed to this programme, yet some changes and stresses have come with the passage of time. After coming to power Mrs. Indira Gandhi followed policy of nationalisation and more stress was laid on public sector and land reform measures. Stress was also laid on improving the lot of weaker sections of society and also to uplifting the women and removal of regional disparities.

In 1975, emergency was declared in the country and at that time, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi gave her twenty-point programme to the nation. These points included bringing down of prices of essential commodities and streamlining of their production and distribution; speedier distribution of surplus land; house sites for the poor and declaration of bonded labour and beggar as illegal; liquidation of rural indebtedness; review of laws on minimum agricultural wages; national programme for the use of underground waters; erection of super thermal stations; development of hand-loom sector; supply of improved quality of cloth; socialisation of urban or urbanisable laud; summary trial for economic offenders; confiscation of smuggler’s property; action against misuse of import licences; workers association in industry; national scheme for road transport; income- tax relief to middle class people; supply of essential commodities at controlled rates; supply of books and stationery at controlled rates and apprenticeship schemes to enlarge employment.

In addition to these twenty-points her son late Sanjay Gandhi also gave five points programme. These included family planning; abolition of dowry system; massive tree plantation programme; adult education and eradication of untouchability.

The programmes were vigorously followed during the period 1975- 1977, as long as there was emergency in the country. Janata party, which came to power in 1977, had its own policies and programmes. In 1980, Congress (I) came to power again and these became the pivots of party’s economic and social policies. Congress (I) still follows policy of non-alignment and non-violence. It also follows policy of mixed economy and that too in a planned way.

The party is now laying stress on transfer of powers to the grassroots by giving effective powers to Village Panchayats and Nagar Mahapalikas. It is also aiming at reforming the judiciary so that justice is easily and cheaply made available to the poor.

It also aims at uplifting the women by giving them share in all elected bodies and reserving seats for them in elected bodies. Sometime back it launched special drive for filling up all vacant posts in offices and public undertakings, reserved for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

It is also favouring continuance of space research programme for India. In the international field, in addition to the policy of non-alignment, it is in favour of paying special attention to good neighbourly relations on the one hand and with Africa and Arab world on the other.

In its 1989 election manifesto, in addition to what was already included in the party programmes mentioned above, the party promised to preserve country’s unity and integrity.

It also pledged power to the people. It promised to revamp cooperative system structurally and financially. It also assured pension scheme for all workers in the organised sector, introduction of social security schemes for workers in the unorganised sector, consolidation of schemes for the welfare SC & ST and that new markets for farm outputs will be created.

The party promised to provide more chances for employment and self-employment, to check corruption from the very grass roots and to redesign industrial and foreign trade policies. The party also promised to bring about radical judicial reforms so that cheap and quick justice was available to the people.

Under the Presidentship and Prime Ministership of P.V. Narsimha Rao, the party has been following the policy of economic liberalisation under which multi-nationals from abroad are being attracted for investment in core sectors of Indian economy where country needs are very urgent but nation has no economic resources to meet these.

Non Resident Indians (NRIs) are being attracted to invest their savings in India for country’s economic development.

All other breakaway groups of Congress have almost disappeared leaving field for Congress (I). Newly formed Indira Congress (Tiwari) has however, been recognised a national party for 1996 general elections for the Lok Sabha and six state-Legislative Assemblies by the Election Commission of India.

Organisation of the Party:

Congress party which is the oldest party in the country has well developed organisational setup. Taluka block is the basic unit of the organisation. Above the basic unit is District Congress Committee which consists of some co-opted members, local party leaders and some indirectly elected members.

Next higher level is Pradesh Congress Committee which is also constituted in the similar manner as District Congress Committee.

Above that in the hierarchy is All India Congress Committee. It consists of indirectly elected members. But the most powerful body in the organisation is its working committee which consists of President of the party and its twenty members. Of these ten are nominated and remaining ten are elected ones. All of them are top congress leaders.

The committee enjoys extensive powers. It is this committee which supervises the work of Pradesh Congress Committees and decides all policies. It also abolishes the existing Pardesh Committees and in their stead constitutes the new ones. AICC constitutes Central Election Committee, Parliamentary Board and Disciplinary Committee, etc.

The party for a very long time and still claims itself to be the representative body of religious minorities, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, backward classes and weaker sections of the society like the women and working classes. But this of the party base is getting eroded.

The party also receives support from the rich and urban elite as well as educated middle class people. Even by illiterate and rural area voters also support it. Party has strong faith in democracy, socialism and secularism. It wishes to modernise the society.

6. Essay on the Janata Party :

Formation and disintegration of Janata party can be considered as one of the most significant features of India’s political life of our own times. It was this party which for the first time, after independence, replaced Congress party at the centre and in many states in the north India.

It was again this party which could not hold itself together and disintegrated after remaining together hardly for a period of about 30 months. Even desire to remain in power could not keep it together.

Congress party had remained in power for almost 30 years both at the centre and the states except, of course, for a brief spell of 4 years (1967-71) when it lost in some of the states, where opposition parties formed government.

Of course, for a very long time political parties in India were thinking that unless and until these united together, it shall be impossible for them to uproot the Congress and seize power from it. But at the same time task of uniting these parties was not easy. Political ideologies very much differed from each other. Even if the parties united, it was difficult to face Congress party which had deep roots all over India.

The people for a very long time had known this party as well as its leaders. The party had branches all over the country and above all had enjoyed power for thirty long years. To some extent this also was a point of great disadvantage as well, because those who could not get power or derive benefit of power were dissatisfied with it.

Steps towards Integration:

First split in the Congress came in 1969. But before that in 1967, Congress had suffered a serious set back at the polls held in that year and opposition parties had tasted power. These now wanted to take advantage of the split. Bhartiya Kranti Dal and Swantantra parties made a bid to merge with each other in 1969, but the proposal did not materialise due to ideological differences.

In 1969, Congress (O) wanted to bring non-communist parties together, as an alternative to ruling Congress, but the proposal again failed. In 1970, six political parties namely Congress (O), Jana Sangh, Swantantra, BKD, PSP and SSP decided to meet weekly to decide about their strategy in Parliament and provide a national alternative to the Congress.

In 1971, elections were held in the country and this time Congress (O), Jana Sangh and SSP decided to form a Front to face the government. Subsequently Swatantra party also decided to join the Front. But it did not achieve much and Congress party was returned to power with thumping majority. The failure of grand alliance very much discouraged these parties.

First major break through can be said to have taken place in 1974 when six small group and parties decided to merge and form Bhartiya Lok Dal. These parties being BKD; SSP, Swatantra; Utkal Congress; Rashtriya Lok Tantric Dal, Punjab Khetibari Zamindari Union and Harijan Sangharsh Samiti.

In 1975, when elections to Gujarat Legislative Assembly were held Congress (O); Jana Sangh; BLD; Socialist party and National Labour Party combined together, as a result of which the group could form government in the state.

In 1975, because of emergency there was no brisk political activity by opposition partiesâ€”their leaders in many cases being behind the bars. In March 1976, however, a meeting of non-communist parties was held in Bombay, which prepared an approach paper for the merger of the parties.

The main objectives of the new proposed party were to end emergency and to preserve democracy. On March 25, 1976, Late Jai Prakash Narayau launched a new party in which were merged Congress (O), Socialist party, BLD and Jana Sangh. The new party known as Janata Party was formally launched on January 23, 1977 with Morarji Desai and Charan Singh, as its Chairman and Deputy Chairman respectively.

The party decided to contest 1977 elections on BLD symbol. It had both the blessings as well as support to Late Jai Prakash Narayan. The new party declared that if returned to power it will restore democracy and democratic institutions, as well as independence of judiciary and that of the press.

On April 30,1977, four parties which had joined Janata Party decided to dissolve themselves. In the meantime Congress for Democracy founded by late Jagjiwan Ram also decided to merge itself with newly founded party. On May 1,1977, the party was formally inaugurated and S. Chandra Sekhar was elected party President.

The formation of Janata Party was widely applauded by the leaders of the parties which merged themselves in this newly formed party. They called it as the finest hour of Indian political life and that the new party was the real party based Gandhiji’s ideals and philosophy.

For them the dreams of Gandhiji had been realised. When the party won 1977 elections, it was hailed as the end of Congress misrule in India and that the democracy had been saved from complete murder. On the other hand, Congress leadership denounced it as a party without any policies and programmes.

It had come into existence only to over throw the Congress and was not likely to last long. It was an arrangement of conveniences in which parties with altogether different view points and ideologies had just come together. According to them, the Janata Party was not a party but a coalition and will be as much a failure as S.V.D. governments which had come into being in 1967.

Before discussing programme of the party, to complete the story, it may be mentioned that after their victory in the Lok Sabha, elected members took an oath on the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi. The oath was administered by Jai Prakash Narayan. In this all the members of the party committed themselves to serve the people on the basis of Gandhian ideology and philosophy.

Hardly, however, the government had taken off when differences developed in the party and the government. Prime Minister called the resignation of both Charan Singh, his Home Minister and that of his Health Minister Raj Narain. Whereas after great persuation he agreed to take back Charan Singh and give him Finance portfolio, he did not agree to taking back of Raj Narain.

In the party Charan Singh raised the issue to dual membership, charging that members of erstwhile Jana Sangh unit of Janata Party were members of two political parties, namely, the Janata Party and R.S.S. Differences developed to such an extent that Raj Narain decided to leave the party.

He was followed by many others ultimately reducing the party to minority in the Lok Sabha and resulting in the collapse of the government. The party disintegrated into several parties and constituent units revived themselves in one way or the other and under the old and new names.

Fall of the Government and After:

In 1979, Janata government saw a fall and in the elections which were subsequently held in 1980 both for the Parliament and the state legislatures, the party miserably failed. In 1980 it could capture only 31 seats in the Lok Sabha as against 298 of 1977.

Its performance was still poor in 1984 elections when it could secure hardly 10 seats of the Lok Sabha. It, however, could secure some seats in the some state legislatures and form a government in Kamataka where it continued to rule for some years.

In 1989, the party, however, decided to merge itself with a section of Lok Dal, then headed by Haryana Chief Minister Devi Lai. The two parties combined formed Janata Dal. This created frictions in the legislature party of Karnataka and some of the MLAs decided to keep away from Lok Dal.

Meantime there was some allegations against Chief Minister Hegde, who was succeeded by Boomai as Chief Minister. In view of non support of some MLAs of the party to the government, it lost both majority and government.

Programme of the Party:

As a programme of the party, as long as it remained in existence, it ended state of emergency and restored the people their Fundamental Rights. The party upheld independence of judiciary and freedom of press. It repealed MISA, reviewed all unjust laws and set right some distortions which had come in the constitution by Constitution Forty-Second Amendment Act.

It wanted to ensure that Arts 352 and 356 of the constitution were not misused.

It promised to look into the problem of reducing election costs and find out the possibility of reducing voting age from 21 to 18 years. It favoured treating all individuals, including, highly placed, ones equal in the eyes of law.

Press censorship was to be abolished and mass media was made free from governmental interference. Right to property was deleted as Fundamental Right, whereas people were promised right to work. Public servants were promised to be freed from political pressure and assured right to approach the court of law.

In economic field, as already pointed out, the party stood for deletion of private property from the list of Fundamental Rights and that it promised to try to give right to work to all and laid stress on decentralised economy. It promised to end destitution and unemployment within a period of ten years.

It wanted to introduce appropriate technology for self-reliance and give primacy to agriculture. New plan priorities were fixed in which high priority was given to rural sector. Rural urban disparities were promised to be narrowed down and emphasis was laid on the production of mass consumption goods.

Promise was also made for statutory reservation of sphere of production for small-scale and cottage industries and small holdings were to be exempted from payment of land revenues. In lieu of sales tax there was to be redistributive taxation. The party promised to give priority to purify the environments.

In the social sphere party promised reforms in education and eradication of illiteracy. It also promised safe drinking water for all and taking of measures for increasing group health. Mass public housing programme was to be started. A comprehensive scheme of social insurance was to be introduced and family planning programme was to be encouraged but without any coercion.

Special machinery was also to geared into action to safe-guard rights and interests of scheduled castes and weaker sections of society.

A Civil Rights Commission was proposed to be set up and there was to be an automatic machinery for checking corruption in public and private life. Other programmes of the party included protection of rights of women; introduction of schemes for Youth Welfare, providing of legal aid to the poor, inexpensive justice and promotion of voluntary action.

In the foreign policy programme the party promised to oppose colonialism and recialism and try to develop friendship with all. It stood for genuine non-alignment and strive for peaceful settlement of all international disputes.

It promised to improve relations with international neighbours and also promote regional co-operation for common good. It was also to see that our armed forces were properly equipped and well trained so that country did not fail at the time of sudden crisis.

During its existence the party received support from the Muslims, Christians and also from a section of working classes.

But party being a heterogeneous group could not pull on well and disintegrated within a period of 29 months. It had bad splits and promises and programmes which were given to the people could not be implemented.

7. Essay on the Communist Party of India :

One of the important political parties of India which is increasingly playing a great role in Indian politics, is Communist Party of India. At present it is divided into CPI and CPI (M) i.e., Marxists. Both have different ideologies as compared with main opposition party in the Parliament namely BJP.

The party has got foot hold in West Bengal where even Indira, Janata, and Rajiv sympathy waves did not have much effect and the party could form government in these states. For sometime Kerala was also ruled by the communists. Gradually its hold on other states is also increasing, where it is coming to focus.

It was in 1917 that the Communists overthrew Czarist regime and captured power in Russia. In India task of spreading communist ideology and founding out party was, entrusted among others to M.N. Roy.

Some young men who were convinced of new ideology organised themselves and formally founded the party on December 26, 1925 and named that as C.P.I. Main aim of the party was to uproot British imperialism from India and liberate the country from colonial rule.

It wanted to expose weaknesses of methods of struggle of Indian National Congress and organise peasants so that they could bring agrarian revolution in the country. They were opposed to the philosophy of passive resistance and wanted to bring changes by violent means and methods.

The programme of the party was determined by the Communist International and the party acted under the guidance of the Soviet Union. During India’s freedom struggle, the party criticised many mass movements and organisations.

The communist decided to infiltrate Congress party and many of them joined that party as well. In turn the party decided to throw open its membership to the Communists, who were offered good position in party set up.

But soon it became clear that the Communists were more interested in showing loyalty to Soviet Union rather than looking after the interests of Indian people. In 1939, during Second World War when Germany signed a pact of non-aggression and neutrality with Russia they described Hitler as friend of Peace and Great Britain and France as war mongers.

But when Soviet Union and the USA and Great Britain sided with each other in defeating Hitler, both the USA and Great Britain were championed as defenders of rights of the people. It also appealed to the people of India to co-operate with Britain against Indian National Congress, with the result that in December 1945 Communists were expelled from the Congress party.

The Communists also did not approve of the partition plan of the country and the constitution that was subsequently given to the people of India.

After Independence, the Communists declared that the leaders of the Congress party, who occupied ministerial chairs represented the interests of capitalist classes and interested groups and that the government was being run by big business. They alleged that India was being sold to Anglo-American bloc.

They also started using violent means and methods and instigated workers to go on strike and stop work to get their rights. Their activities in Telegana were alarming. In order to combat their violent activities many state governments imposed ban on their activities and declared the party as illegal and unconstitutional.

Meanwhile Communist party leaders also found that it was difficult for them to dislodge the government, which had popular support, from power and authority, by violent means and methods, because India was accustomed to bringing changes by peaceful means.

In 1952, party declared that winning of freedom was end of one phase of India’s freedom struggle and that the other phase of the struggle in which people were to be provided food, clothing and shelter, laid ahead. They, therefore, declared that they will launch all struggles by peaceful means and methods as far as possible

In the first general elections held in 1952 in India the party won 27 Lok Sabha and 181 state Assemblies seats, which was quite encouraging for it. In 1953, the party was recognised as national party. Since the party agreed to follow peaceful means in its struggle, several party workers in jails were released and some of the states lifted ban from the party and allowed it to continue its activities.

They now started infiltrating into workers, farmers, students and every other organisation.

In 1957, elections the party won 29 Lok Sabha seats. But its most important achievement was that in Kerala it won absolute majority and formed government. It was for the first time in world history that the party came to power with the help of ballot boxes.

Differences in the Party:

But by 1953 differences in the party started over the role of the Communists towards the Congress government. The rightists in the party felt that Nehru government was acting in the interest of the working classes and should be co-operated. For them the government was progressive, whereas the leftists in the party branded the government as pro-imperialist opined and that its policies were encouraging right reaction.

These differences continued but in 1956 view point of the former was accepted at the party Congress held at Pal Ghat, in April of that year. Thereafter CPI started extending co-operation to Nehru government at all levels.

CPI was, however, placed in a very awkward position when its leadership failed to openly brand China as aggressor, during the critical period of Indo-Sino war in 1962. Meanwhile Sino-Soviet differences very much increased and the rightists in the party solidly stood with Russia, whereas the leftists supported view point of China.

The rightists also condemned Chinese aggression over India. In September 1964, differences between the party became so wide that leftists, formed a separate party called the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and both the parties issued separate election manifestoes.

A total of 40 MLAs out of 170 Communist MLAs joined the newly founded party. During fourth general election both the factions fought elections independently and even opposed each other.

After the split CPI continued to support the government whereas CPI (M) did not favour many of its policies. Whereas the former sided with the government in the Parliament and voted with it during no-confidence moves the latter organised bandhs and encouraged hartals. These differences still continue.

The Communists get main support from the labourers and peasants. The low caste in the rural areas and urban unemployed too extend their support to the party. The communists have on the whole their support in West Bengal and Kerala. They have some supporters in other southern states as well.

The communists believe in the principle of democratic centralism and centralised leadership. Within the party the members can, however, freely express their view point and can criticise leadership. But once the policies have been finalised these must be sincerely executed.

Both the parties are cadre based and have well developed hierarchical system. These start work at village level and thereafter district, state and national councils are set up for party work. Working and labouring classes are their main source of strength.

Programme of CPI:

The party stands for freedom of press and does not support imposition of emergency or MISA, etc. It wants immediate implementation of land reform measures. It also did not support some of the amendments introduced in the constitution by the passing of Forty-Second Constitution Amendment Act.

It suggests that public distribution system should be extended and essential commodities should be supplied at reasonable rates. It opposes bank credits for speculative purposes.

It stands for the take over of whole sale trade in food-grains and wants that essential commodities should be supplied at reasonable rates. It opposes bank credits for speculative purposes. It stands for take over of whole sale trade in food-grains and other essential commodities. It believes in rapid industrialisation and quick creation of employment opportunities.

It wants nationalisation of jute, textile, sugar and foreign chug industries. It wants cancellation of all concessions given to big business but stands to encourage small and medium units through adequate credits and providing of raw materials.

It also wants that taxes on the people should be reduced. Industries in backward and rural areas should be set up and adequate facilities should be provided to technologists and scientists so that country becomes technically self-reliant.

It stands for minimum, wages, guaranteed bonus, total ban on lay-offs, lockouts, closures, retrenchments but favours collective bargaining and right of workers to go on strike. It also wants that the peasants should be given adequate prices for their produce and distribution of surplus and waste government lands among the landless.

The party stresses that the artisans and workers should be supplied raw material at cheap rates and co-operatives for weavers and artisans should be set up. Women should be paid equal wages for similar work and for this all laws already enacted should be effectively implemented. Comprehensive family welfare programme should be finalised.

In implementing family planning programme, there should be no use of coercion and at work centres maternity homes should be started. It stands for right to work and labour-intensive schemes in rural and urban areas and also that the students should be given a hand in the running of management of educational institutions.

Right of the Muslims, harijans and minorities should be fully protected. It wants that severe punishments should be given to those who discriminate against harijans.

In foreign policy sphere party stands for non-alignment but at the same time wants that friendship should be encouraged with all the communist countries of the world. It also stands for confiscation of all foreign capital in India.

Policies and Programme of C.P.I. (M):

Communist Party of India (M), which broke from the Communist Party of India, has its own policies and programmes. It also does not favour MISA law or press censorship and pleads for the takeover of foreign capital and investment of private foreign capital in the country.

It suggests moratorium on all foreign debt payments and nationalisation of all monopoly houses. It wants to give assistance to small- and medium-industries as well as propagates nationalisation of sugar, textile, cement, jute and drug industries. It pleads for the takeover all foreign trade and disfavours bureaucratisation of public sector undertakings.

It encourages bargaining through trade unionism and cancellation of all debts payable by the peasants. It wants to drastically bring down prices of essential commodities and reduce all taxes. The party suggests that all should be given right to work and that this should be made a constitutional right.

Provision should also be made for unemployment relief and that illiteracy should be eradicated by providing free compulsory education for all. In the foreign affairs, the party wants that India should have close co-operation with communist countries.

It favours ban on private foreign capital and foreign debt payments. It also wants nationalisation of monopoly houses.

There is clear difference between the approaches of CPI and CPI (M). Whereas CPI believes that revolution in India can be brought by working classes, CPI believes that the purpose can be achieved by co-operating with other democratic forces. CPI (M) believes in dislodging existing government, whereas CPI does not believe in that.

CPI (M) does not believe that the existing powerful classes will voluntarily give up power but CPI has all faith in peaceful means. CPI favours extending support to Government of India in solving dispute with China whereas CPI (M) does not wish to brand China as aggressor. It also wants peaceful settlement of Indo-China border dispute.

Overall Performance of the Communist Parties:

The performance of Communists in India has been quite good. It could form a stable government in West Bengal and has good hold in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. In the Eighth Lok Sabha CPI (M) had 22 seats and in the Rajya Sabha its strength was 15.

CPI had 6 Lok Sabha seats. In 1989, both the parties combined together won about 50 seats. In fact, since its formation both the parties have given a good account of their performance. These have not thought in term of merger with other opposition parties. As a result of elections to the Lok Sabha held in 1991 CPI (M) won 36 and CPI 14 seats.

It has an understanding with National Front. The Communits see quite, good future for themselves in India.

In the elections held in April-May, 1996 the C.P.M. won 32 and C.P.I 11 seals. The later has also decided to join United Front Government at the Centre with H.D. Dev Gowda as Prime Minister. The former has however, decided support the same government from outside. The left parties hence also been in a position to form government under Jyoti Basil as Chief Minister in West Bengal for the fifth time.

8. Essay on the Bhartiya Janata Party :

Bhartiya Jana Sangh was founded by Dr. Shyama Parsad Mukerjre. The organisation became popular in North India, particularly in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, U.P. and Madhya Pradesh. It was one of the important political parties both at the centre as well as in the states and in IX it captured both the Municipal Corporation and Metropolitan Council for long time.

After 1977 elections it merged itself with the Janata Party. But Charan Singh-Raj Narain axis raised the issue of dual membership.

They wanted that the members of erstwhile Jana Sangh party should severe all their connections with the RSS, which according to their thesis was a political party. Both erstwhile Jana Sangh and other consumer s of Janata Party refuted this theory. Erstwhile BLD, a constituent unit or the Janata Party made it an issue and, left the party.

The Janata Party including erstwhile Jana Sangh group unitedly contested elections. After party defeat, leader of the Parliamentary party, Jagjiwan Ram raised the issue of dual membership. All efforts made by other constituents to solve the problem and save the party from further disintegration failed. Erstwhile Bhartiya Jana Sangh had no other alternative but to leave the party.

Along with them several other prominent Janata party leaders, who did not contribute to the idea of dual membership, also left the party. Whereas erstwhile Bhartiya Jana Sangh maintained that it was altogether a new party, its opponents vehemently propagate that present BJP is nothing else but the old name of Bhartiya Jana Sangh.

At a convention of the party Atal Bihari Vajpayee, External Affairs Minister in Moraiji cabinet, was elected as its President.

The party is urban based though it is trying to spread its hold in the rural areas as well. It has considerable hold over educated middle class and large section of government servants. It is a cadre based party with hierarchical set up.

The lowest unit of the party functions in a small area or locality. At the state level there is State Council and State Executive, whereas at the national level there is also National Council and National Executive.

The party as it now stands, believes in secularism and democracy. It wants that democracy should be preserved and for them the Communists should be opposed because they are opposed to democracy and preach violence. According to the party for preserving nation and independence everything should be sacrificed.

The party wants that J and K should be merged with rest of India as quickly as possible. It stands for eradication of corruption and for providing cheap and speedy justice. It also believes in the principle of independence of judiciary. It also believes in the policy of democratic decentralisation.

It wants to have economic democracy in which there should be equal opportunities for all and nationalisation of all basic and defence industries. It stands for nationalisation of mining, tea plantation and such other industries which are at present in the hands of foreigners.

It proposes to abolish sale tax and desires that every Indian citizen should have some minimum living standard. It also wants to give compulsory military training to all young men.

It is opposed to the political appeasements of any community. It is also not in favour of capitalism and favours economic democracy. It is in favour of immediate land reforms and eradication of poverty. It is not opposed to the policy of economic liberalisation provided foreign multi-nationals are engaged for core sectors of national economy.

In the foreign affairs it wants that India should first of all look after its won interests and that she should have cordial relations with the neighbouring countries. It wants that no Indian should be allowed to have extra territorial loyalties and that everyone should have loyalties to the nation above everything else.

Every problem should be solved by peaceful means and methods. The party does not tolerate indiscipline and wants it to be maintained at every level. The party is now laying stress on the use of Suadeshi.

In 1989 Lok Sabha election manifesto the party made it clear that roots of all corruption lie in political corruption. It is in favour of cleansing of public life by breaking unholy nexus between corrupt bureaucrats, corrupt businessman and corrupt politicians.

It wants to strengthen Lok Pal and Lokayukta institutions. It also favours restructuring of tax system. The party favours major electoral reforms and checking of criminalisation of politics.

It is in favour of economically and administratively viable small states. It also stands for statehood for Delhi. Tor settling inter-state disputes it wants to set up inter-state councils. It is in favour of limit on the number of Ministers in the Council of Ministers, deletion and scrapping of Art 370′ of the Constitution. It is in favour of uniform civil code and setting up of Human Rights Commission instead of Minority Commissions.

The party wants to have compulsory voting for all citizens and public funding of elections. It also wants to have optimum defence preparedness and provide adequate protection to handloom sector.

These programmes have also been included in party election manifesto for 1996 Lok Sabha elections.

Party performance is very rapidly improving and it is emerging as an alternative to the Congress (I). It also formed government in Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan but these state Assemblies were dissolved in the wake of Babri masjid demolition, 1992. As a result of elections held thereafter the party could form government in Rajasthan, Gujrat and Delhi.

It is a very important coalition partner of Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, where both together have formed government. In Madhya Pradesh, it is major opposition party. It has formed government in Gujrat.

After the election held for eleventh Lok Sabha in Apirl-May, 1996 the party won 161 seats and was returned as the single largest party and its leader Atal Bihari Vajpeyee was invited by the President to form the government. It enjoyed the support of 16 members of Shiv Sena, 3 of Haryana Vikas Party and 5 of Samta pony.

He fanned the government at the Centre and thus for the first time BJ.P. government was saddled in authority at the Centre. But it remained m power for only 13 day when all other political parties decided not to support B.J.P. government, branding it as a communal party. It is the mam opposition parties in both the Houses of Parliament now.

The party performance in 1989 Lok Sabha elections was remarkable; whereas in the eighth Lok Sabha it had only two seats, in the ninth Lok Saba it won as many as 88 seats. In the tenth Lok Sabha it emerged as the main opposition party. It is also the main opposition party in the Rajya Sabha.

9. Essay on the Lok-Dal:

It was during fourth general elections that some Congress men under the leadership of Charan Singh broke away from the Congress party and founded a new political party called Bhartiya Kranti Dal. It was a coalition party in the S.V.D. government formed in the at that time up leader Charan Singh became U.P. Chief Minister.

In 1974, some non-Communist parties decided to come together. These were SSP, Utkal Congress; Rashtriya Lok Tantrik Dal; Kisan Mazdoor Party of Haryana and the Swatantra and Khetibari Kisan Union of Punjab. The party was named as Bhartiya Lok Dal.

The party decided to merge itself with the Janata Party which was founded in 1977, and its leader Charan Singh became the Home Minister in the new government. But it broke out from the Janata Party on dual membership issue. The members of erstwhile BLD and their associates named their party as Janata (S) or Janata (Secular) which was subsequently named as Janata (Socialist).

It was their leader Charan Singh, who became the Prime Minister of care taker government, after the fall of Morarji Desai’s government in 1979.

It is opposed to taxation on agricultural produces. It wants that peasants should be given all facilities including credits, fertilisers and improved seeds, in addition to irrigation facilities. It also wants abolition of land lordism. It is not in favour of take over of whole sale wheat trade by the government.

It is opposed to the levy of income tax on salaries and insists on the widest dispersal of ownership of property and means of production. It is also against concentration of wealth in the hands of few capitalists and also that of too much of power in the hands of the central government. It wishes that the states should have more autonomy.

The party has support of farmers and the rural folk of a part of U.P., Bihar and its adjoining states. Both the Jats and Rajputs of U.P. and adjoining states also extend their support to it. It gives great importance to agricultural and rural development.

It has full faith in Gandhian socialism and trusteeship system as propagated by Mahatma Gandhi. It wants that the agriculturists should be given remunerative prices for their produce.

The village should be self-sufficient unit and economy should be decentralised. It is opposed to communalism. It wants to end the hold of multinational corporations and foreign agencies. It wants to improve the conditions of the poor and the downtrodden and favours abolition of landlordism.

It also favours curtailment of powers of the central government. It is also in favour of replacing income tax by consumption tax. It is opposed to drinking and aims at introducing prohibition.

After breaking away from Janata party Lok Dal tried to co-operate with Congress (I) and thereafter with Congress (U) but could not achieve much success. It received further set back when late Raj Narain left the party. During 1984 elections its performance in the Lok Sabha was disappointing but it could capture about 150 Assembly seats in Bihar, Rajasthan and U.P.

The party received further set back after the death of its founder President and leader Chaudhri Charan Singh. It got divided with two groups one headed by his son Ajit Singh and the other by late H.N. Bahuguna. The latter joined hands with Chaudhri Devi Lai of Haryana and won Haryana Assembly elections held in 1987.

It also formed government in the state, though subsequently both parted company. Ajit Singh group, however, joined the newly formed Janata Dal. He subsequently joined Congress (I) and became a Minister in Narsimha Rao government.

10. Essay on the Janata Dal:

Opposition parties in India have always been trying to come together. A fresh initiative was taken in 1988 by Haryana Chief Minister Chaudhri Devi Lai. His call was responded by Janata Party leadership and accordingly Lok Dal and Janata Party decided to merge their identity and form a new party called Janata Dal.

Ajit Singh group also joined the Dal. It got the full support of Telugu Desam party headed by N.T. Rama Rao.

The party came to an understanding with other opposition parties, including BJP and leftist parties. These parties developed a strategy by which only one candidate was to be fielded in each constituency to contest election against a Congress candidate, so that there was no division of votes. The strategy worked well and as a result of 1989 general elections to the Lok Sabha the Congress lost majority.

It could win only 193 seats, as against 143 of the National Front out of which Janata Dal won 141 seats. BJP which won 88 seats and Leftist parties which could capture about 50 seats assured their support from outside to National Front formed the government.

This practically meant Janata Dal government. Thus, a minority government headed by Janata Dal leader V. P. Singh was formed with outside support of BJP and left parties. In 1989, it formed government at the Centre, dislodging Congress (I) from power for the second time.

The election manifesto of the party promised a clean and efficient government on the one hand restoring of dignity to all on the other. The manifesto also promised to make right to work as a statutory right and to enshrine right to information in the Constitution.

It also promised to convert AIR and Doordarshan into autonomous corporations. Another programme of the party included curbing of corruption and tracking down the kickbacks received in Bofors and other deals.

The party promised to introduce comprehensive electoral reforms and curb money and muscle power in the elections. It also aimed at revitalising parliamentary and other constitutional institutions and to make these accountable to the nation. It promised to lay stress on agricultural and rural development and promised to keep 50% of the plan out lay for the purpose.

It also promised rumencrative prices for agricultural produce, debt relief to farmers and make credit facilities available to them. It also planned to supply essential commodities to rural poor at reasonable prices. It also promised exploitation of water resources, maximum wages to agricultural labour, etc.

In foreign policy, it proposes to follow the policy of non-alignment and have good neighbourly relations. It believed in open system of government at home. It was opposed to over centralisation and wanted to restore true federal character to polity.

It wanted to give fair deal both to women, Scheduled Castes & Schedule Tribes and other backward classes. The party per posed to solve all national problems with the cooperation of other political parties. It also promised to ensure that the judiciary was kept outside -je influence of the executive and justice was both quick and cheap.

It promised implementation of Mandal Commission recommendations, which resulted in wide spread riots all over India and resulted in down fall of the government.

Janata Dai’s performance is quite impressive. It has formed governments in Karnataka and Bihar. It is part of National Front and an active participants in National Front â€” Left Front Combine. It has entered into an alliance with Samaj-Wadi party in U.P. for contesting 1996 Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections.

As a result of elections held in April-May 1996 for the eleventh Lok Sabha the party 44 seats. It took active part in the formation of United Front consisting of 13 national and regional parties. It became a major partner in United Front Government headed by one of its leaders H.D. Dev Gowda as Prime Minister, which took office on 1.6.1996.

11. Essay on the Dravida Munnetra Kaghgam Party (D.M.K):

DMK party had very strong hold in Tamil Nadu, but its position has been taken over by All India Anna DMK party, which is break away of the main DMK. It is outgrowth of Justice Party of E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker. The party was founded by C.N. Annadurai.

South India has been feeling concerned about its poverty for quite some time. Some leaders of the non-Brahmin Dravidan Community founded separate party known as Justice party to launch a struggle against poverty. The leaders included C. Natasa Mudaliar, T.M. Nair and several others. But Justice party could not pull on well and many frictions and factions developed in it.

It was out of these internal disputes that a leader of the people E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker emerged and in 1944 he founded DMK. It was in the beginning a party which was against the Brahmins, even the Veda: and all rituals and practices which the Brahmins had imposed on Hindu society. After independence Naicker adopted a negative attitude towards both about honouring national flag and Indian Constitution.

He also married a young 28 years party worker at the age of 72 and also did not agree to run Party on democratic lines.

This irritated many party workers who organised themselves under the leadership of C.N. Annadurai, who had earlier been chosen by Naicker himself as his trusted colleague. On September 17, 1949, Annadurai broke away from the party and founded DMK.

The new party decided to champion the cause of the poor, illiterate and down-trodden in Tamil Nadu. Soon the party started entering political arena. In 1957, it won 15 seats in the state Assembly but the number rose to 50 in 1962. In that year it also won 7 Lok Sabha seats. But it was in 1967 that party captured power in the state and also captured all the 25 seats which it contested for the Lok Sabha.

The party had full hold over the people and in the elections held in 1971, it did not receive any serious set back though all other opposition parties were effected by “Indira Wave” which swept the country in that year. Even in that year it captured 23 Lok Sabha seats. There was however division in the party when M.G. Ramachaudran, party treasurer and a Minister in the cabinet broke out from it and formed All India Anna DMK.

It is this party which remained in power in the state for about a decade. In 1977, when Janata party came to power, it co-operated with it and its nominees held Ministerial posts in the Union Cabinet. In the election held in 1980, DMK reached an understanding with Congress (I) and captured 16 Lok Sabha seals. In the elections held in 1984 the party could capture only one Lok Sabha seat and its performance was not good even in the state elections held at that time.

The party captured power in the state after elections held early in 1989 for the State Assembly in Tamil Nadu. It, however, could not win even a single seat for the Lok Sabha in the elections held in November of that year. The party had then sided with National Front. In 1995 the party had no representation in the Lok Sabha and also in Tamil Nadu Assembly where it had almost, giving been completely wiped out.

The party position however, very much improved during 1996 elections, which were held in April-May of that year both for the Lok Sabha as well as the State Assembly. For the Lok Sabha it won 17 seats, whereas in the Assembly elections, it won absolute majority.

It completely routed its opponent AIADMK headed by Jaya Lilatha. It formed government under Karunanidhi. At the Centre it joined United Front and joined Front government headed by H.D. Dev Gowda.

The party stands for more powers for the states, as in its opinion states in India are more or less glorified municipalities. It is opposed to the imposition of Hindi on the people of the South. It wants federalisation of financial resources and code of conduct to give guide-lines under which states Assemblies should be dissolved.

It favours free press and ending of regional imbalances. It wants industrialisation in the South which could end poverty. The party is opposed to confrontation with the centre, but does not favour deployment of police or army by the centre in the states, without states’ approval.

It also wants that Darvadian culture should be popularised. It favours regional language as state language. It stands for the uplifting of the poor and the down trodden, both socially and economically. It favours giving wide powers to the states both in financial and administrative fields.

12. Essay on All India Anna D.M.K. (A.I.A.D.M.K) :

The party was founded in October 1972 by M.G. Ramachandran, who was Treasurer of DMK party and also a Minister in DMK Government. In the elections held in 1977 the party won absolute majority in Tamil Nadu and formed government. It also captured 18 Lok Sabha seats.

It also formed Ministries in Pondicherry both in 1974 and 1977. In 1980 elections, the party, however, could win only two Lok Sabha seats but its performance in Assembly elections held in that year was really impressive. It could form government in Tamil Nadu. In the Lok Sabha elections held in 1984 it could capture 12 out of 18 Lok Sabha seats, and its performance in the Assembly was loo impressive.

After 1984 election, party Chief and State Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran began to keep poor health. He almost lost his vigour to guide, though he continued to guide party affairs and also remained state Chief Minister. After his death the party got divided between Janaki Ramachandran (his wife) group and Jayalalitha group.

In the elections which were held for the slate Assembly in 1989 DMK took full advantage of the rift and could win absolute majority in the State Assembly.

It formed government under the leadership of M. Karunanidhi. Thus, ended glorious era of Ramachandran and AIADMK. Both Janaki and Jayalalitha groups, however, again united. In Lok Sabha elections held in 1989, the party joined hands with Congress (I) and both won all the seats from Tamil Nadu, whereas DMK drew blank.

In 1995, the party had 12 seats in the Lok Sabha and 6 seats in the Rajya Sabha. It formed government in Tamil Nadu under the Chief Ministership of Ms. Jayalalitha. The party has strong hold in the state.

For 1996 Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assembly elections it has entered into alliance with the Congress (1). Both the parties contested as combine both in Tamil Nadu and Pondichem but were badly defeated. The alliance had very poor performance in both the states.

The party wants that more powers and resources should be transferred to the states. It also does not wish that Hindi should be given the status of national language. It favours regional language as state language with English as link language. It stands for prohibition and nationalisation of large-scale industries and also state control over essential commodities.

It also wants that the electorates should be given power to recall their elected representatives. It favour prohibition throughout India and State controlled production and distribution of all essential commodities.

In the foreign affairs it feels that the government is leaning towards Soviet Union and wants that India should have close healthy relations with neighbouring and South East Asian countries. It lays great stress on national security and recovery of all those Indian territories which have been occupied by foreign powers.

13. Essay on the Mizo National Front :

The party was set up as early as in 1960 but its performance during stale Assembly elections was not good. In 1965, the party demanded creation of sovereign state of Mizoram which should be empowered to frame its own foreign policy.

In order to achieve its objectives the party indulged in violence and insurgency.

Underground activities of militant Mizos very considerably increased and military had to be called to crush it. Militant attitude of the party persisted for about 2 decades when in 1986 an Accord was signed with Mizo National From leader Laldenga and a coalition government with the partnership of Congress (I) under his Chief Ministership was formed.

In 1987 the party got majority in the State Assembly and formed a government of its own. It continued to rule the state till September 1988 when the government was dismissed and the state was placed under President rule.

Meanwhile there was split in the party and new party called MNF (Democrat) was formed. In 1989, when elections for the state Assembly were again held the party did not fair well and could capture only 14 seats as against 23 of the Congress (I). In November 1993, the party could manage to win only 14 seats. In 1995, the party had no representation in Parliament.

After the creation of separate state of Mizoram insurgency and militancy in the state has been considerably brought under control.

The party wants that Mizo culture language and religion should be fully protected and separate state for the purpose should be created. The state should have sufficient resources needed for self-reliant economy of the state so that it becomes less dependent on the Centre.

14. Essay on the Hindu Mahasabha :

Hindu Mahasabha is an old political party. It was in existence even before the partition of the country. Main aim of the party then was to counter the effect of Muslim League and to consolidate the Hindus and make them politically conscious about their rights and place in India. The party wants that Hindu culture and civilisation should be protected and developed.

It believes in the following of democratic principles but wants that India should be developed on the basis of cultural traditions of the country. It is of the view that it should not be forgotten that India is predominantly a Hindu state.

It wants that all sections of Indian society should be consolidated and uplifted and all social in-equalities and disabilities should be removed. It is strongly of the view that cow slaughter should be banned.

It stands for the nationalisation of all key industries and also wants that India should be quickly industrialised and modernised. It is opposed to concentration of wealth just in few hands. It wants that able bodied persons should be given compulsory military training. It is not in favour of India’s continuance in the Commonwealth. It favours compulsory military training for all able bodies person so that India emerges as a powerful state.

In spite of the fact that it is an old political party, yet it has not made any dent on the political scene of India. By the ruling elite it has been branded as a communal political party which has no place in secular fabric and polity of the country.

15. Essay on the Shiromani Akali Dal :

In Punjab politics Akali Dal has played and continues to play a very dominant role. This party was in existence even before the partition of the country’. Under the undisputed leadership, Master Tara Singh, the party negotiated with the Missions which visited India from time to time to find a solution to India’s constitutional problems.

It was due to the efforts of this Dal that interests of Sikhs in Punjab were protected or at least their demands came to focus. Before bifurcation of Punjab into two separate states i.e. Punjab and Haryana the Dal had been demanding creation of separate Punjabi speaking state.

In 1967, Akali Dal and Bhartiya Jana Sangh formed coalition government in Punjab. In 1971, under Indira wave Akali Dal lost majority in the state Assembly but emerged as single largest group in the state. In 1977, it was returned to power in the state and formed coalition government with Janata party.

The party had cabinet post in Janata government which was in power between 1977-79. When Moraiji Desai government resigned, it decided to extend its cooperation to the care-taker government headed by Charan Singh. In 1980 elections, the Dal did not return to power, but was the single largest party in Punjab Legislative Assembly.

A section of the Akali Dal under Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawala took recourse to serious violence demanding full implementation of Anand Pur Sahib resolution. The violence not only created law and order problem but took many precious lives in a very planned manner.

This group ushered an era of terrorism in Punjab and the minorities started leaving the state. Under the circumstances the state was placed under President rule, but the government showed its keenness to introduce democratic set up and accordingly an Accord was signed between the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Surject Singh Bamala and Sant Longowal.

After the Accord elections were held in the State and Akali Dal headed by Surjeet Singh Bamala was returned to power. Sant Longowal was, however, shot down by the terrorist. Akali Government of Barnala, however, could not remain united and got divided. It was also alleged that some of its Ministers were in league with the terrorists.

The minority government with the help of some other parties continued in power but could not check deteriorating, law and order situation. President rule had to be again imposed and state remained under President rule for few years, till elections were held and Congress (I) returned to power.

It formed government under Beant who successfully brought peace to the state but in the process annoyed the militant, who shot him dead in 1995. He was succeeded by H.S. Brar as state Chief Minister. In 1995, the party had no representation in the Lok Sabha.

In 1996 Lok Sabha elections held in April-May of that year the party won 8 out of 13 seats and thus got good representation in the Lok Sabha from Punjab. During confidence vote moved in the Lok Sabha in May, 1996 by Atal Bihari Vajpayee for his government, the Dal sided with B.J.P.

It believes in the abolition of landlordism and taking over land without payment of compensation. It favours state control over means of production and distribution. It supports the idea of reducing the prices of agricultural equipments and free movement of food stuff from one state to the other.

It favours inn-coercive family planning programme. It wants that all Panjabi speaking areas and also Chandigarh should be transferred to Punjab and favours safeguarding of social, economic and political interests of minorities. It favours the philosophy of socialism and that of welfare state.

It believes that agricultural production should be increased and it should also be exempted from the payment of sales tax. It also stands for free movement of food grains throughout the country. It wants immediate withdrawal of all repressive laws.

16. Essay on the Asom Gana Parishad :

Assam is a sensitive state in India and has seen several turmoil’s and agitations. AGP. (Asom Gana Parishad) was founded in 1985. When elections for the state Assembly were held in December of that year it was returned as a majority party and its leader Prafulla Kumar Mohanta formed government in the state.

But soon the party alienated the sympathies of Bengalis and Marwaris because of its unqualified support to the Hindu Community of Brahmaputra. It also adopted an attitude of confrontation with the Central government.

The result was that law and order situation in the state deteriorated and in November, 1990 the state was placed under President’s rule. Elections to the state Assembly were again held in June 1991, when its performance was very disappointing.

The party pleads that the people of Assam should dominate over state economy and Bangladeshis who have come to Assam and settled down here should be thrown out of the state. Like J & K the stale of Assam should also be given special status in India.

In 1995, the party had one seat each in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha but had 25 seats in Assam Legislative Assembly.

After 1996 Stale Assembly elections the party was in a position to form a coalition government in the State, with its leader Proffula Kumar Mohanta as Chief Minister. It also won five Lok Sabha seats and has decided to support and join United Front government at the Centre. It is also a part of Federal Front formed by four regional parties within the United Front.

17. Essay on the National Conference :

It has its influence in J &K State and till 1965, in collaboration with and with the co-operation of Congress party, it ruled over the state. It was in that year that the party saw a split and went in the background. In 1975, the party was revived under late Shiekh Muhammad Abdulla and showed good performance both in the Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections.

After his death the party again got divided and Dr. Farooq Abdulla, Shiekh’s son, beaded one faction.

It won 1983 Assembly elections but could not survive full term as G.M. Shah withdrew his support from the government. Shah Ministry which came to power with the support of Congress, could not control deteriorating law and order situation and check corruption in the state.

The party lost support of the Congress and saw its down fall. The state was placed under President rule, subsequently an agreement was signed between Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Farooq Abdulla and a Coalition government headed by the latter was installed in J&K.

He, however, recommended dissolution of Assembly and proposed fresh elections, which were held in 1987. National Conference and Congress (I) co-operated with each other and won absolute majority in the state Assembly. It formed government as well in the state. But 1990 when Jag Mohan was appointed state Governor, state Chief Minister resigned and since then the state is under President rule.

The party is opposed to communalism and favours socialism. It accepts that Kashmir is an integral part of India but wishes that its special status should be continued. It also wants more autonomy and Financial resources for the state.

It also believes that states in India should be given more powers. The party has decided not to participate in 1996 Lok Sabha elections or to nominate any candidate for the seats to be filled from J&K.

18. Essay on the Telugu Desham:

The party was founded in March 1982 under the leadership of N.T. Rama Rao, a film star. In the Assembly elections which were held in 1983 the party captured power in Andhra Pradesh, where it had its strong hold. In 1984 the then Governor Ramlal dismissed Ministry but that had to be reinstated due to country wide agitation against Governor’s decision.

In 1985, elections were again held for the State Assembly and once again Rama Rao established supremacy of his party. He won as many as 202 seats in a House of 292. His party emerged as the single largest opposition in the Lok Sabha.

It became for all purposes a part of newly formed Janata Dal, headed by V.P. Singh. In the elections held in 1989, both for the Lok Sabha as well as State Legislative Assembly, the party badly failed. It lost power in the State where Congress (I) was returned to power. It could get only two Lok Sabha seats from the state.

As a result of elections held in 1991 for the Lok Sabha the party captured 13 seats but subsequently there was split in the party and its strength was reduced to seven in 1995. In that year in Andhra Pradesh L.A. it could to capture power and formed government under N.T. Rama Rao but soon there were family fends and his son-in-law Chender Babu Naidu got allegiance of many party MLAs and formed government under his Chief Ministership.

The party is now divided in two factions one by Chander Babu Naidu and other by N.T. Rama Rao’s widow Lakshmi Parvati.

As a result of Lok Sabha elections held in April-May, 1996 TDP headed by Mrs. Parvati was completely routed. It could not win even a single Lok Sabha seat, whereas Naidu group won 16 seats. It has joined United Front government headed by H.D. Dev Gowda. It is also a constituent of Federal Front constituted by four regional party.

The party believes that living standard of the people of India can be raised only through rural development. Special measures should be taken for improving the lot of women, children and weaker sections of society. It wants that strong steps should be taken to check corruption at all levels and unemployed should be given unemployment allowance.

It also wants more financial resources for the states and transfer of powers from the centre to the states. It is not in favour of imposition of Hindi but favours Development of regional languages.

The party has promised imposition of complete prohibition in the state and also make available rice to the poor @ Rs.2/= per kg. It also promised free mid-day meal programme for school children. It stands for the development of Telugu language in the state.

19. Essay on the Bahujan Samaj Party :

For a very long time U.P. was strong hold of Congress and party on the whole claimed itself to be the custodian of the interests of the Dalits and backwards. They in turn extended their whole hearted support to the party which on the basis of their voting strength remained in power for decades, both at the centre as well as the states.

But as the time passed these sections of society began to alienate themselves from this party. It was in this background that on April 1984, a new party called BSP was founded with Kanshi Ram as its President.

The party aims at uplifting the Dalits and down-trodden sections of the society. It believes that it can be possible only when strong hold of Brahmins and Baniyas on the society is completely finished and the Dalits are relieved from their clutches. It believes that such Dalits are in majority in India, therefore, their rule can be the basis of true democracy in the country.

Soon after coming into existence the party could develop some base in Punjab and Haryana. It could capture 9 seats in state legislative Assembly of Punjab and 67 seats that of U.P. In the party U.P. extended co-operation to Samajwadi Party of Mulayam Singh Yadav, who could form government in the state. It could not get any foot-hold in Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh.

Mulayam Singh government did not last long in U.P. when B.S.P. decided to withdraw his support from the government. BJ.P. thereafter extended its support to B.S.P from outside and formed government under the Chief Ministership of Ms. Mayawati.

But because of basic ideological differences the combination could not pull on well and in a short span of about four months, B.J.P. decided to withdraw its support from the government reducing it to minority party in the State Assembly resulting in the fall of the government. The state Assembly was subsequently dissolved.

In 1995, the party had one seat each in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. It had nine seats in Panjab Assembly and one in Haryana Legislative Assembly.

It performance during 1996 Lok Sabha elections was quite impressing. It won 11 Lok Sabha seats. It has quite a good strong hold in U.P.

20. Essay on All India Muslim League:

The party has its foot hold in Kerala, where it could capture some Assembly seats during 1970 and 1977 elections. In 1995, it had 17 seats in Kerala L.A. Its performance as a political party has neither been impressive in the Lok Sabha nor in the state Assemblies except in Kerala.

The party favours protecting interests of the Muslim minorities all over the country. It favours socialism. The main cause of its unpopularity is that the people of India have not forgotten that Muslim League under the Mr. Jinnah was responsible for the partition of the country. Secondly, since India has secular character, the people have developed a sort of elergy for communal parties.

21. Essay on the Bhartiya Jana Sangh :

The party was founded by late Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee on the eve of first general elections. After its formation it gained ground in North India and Madhya Pradesh. It also performed well both in the Lok Sabha as well as state Assembly elections held in 1971. It received unfavourable treatment from the mling Congress (I) party during 1975-77 emergency. After the lifting of emergency when Janata Party was formed a large part of the Jana Sangh decided to merge itself with the newly born party. A section still wants to maintain its identity and continues to retain its name under Presidentship of Prof. Balraj Madhok.

The party wants that Hindu culture should be protected and the Muslims of India should be Indianised. It also wants that India should be a Hindu state and partition of the country was a wrong decision. It wants that special status of Kashmir should be ended. It favours democratic system and rule of law.

It is not in favour of bicameralism in the states. It wants unitary system for the country as a whole. It favours nationalisation of main industries and that in foreign policy national interests should be kept above everything else.

The party wants that the states should be given more powers and like many other parties it also wants that financial resources of the country should be so divided that the states become financially less dependent on the Centre. It also wants that the Centre should least interfere in the affairs of the states. It however has not much say in political affairs of the country.

The Role of Regional Parties in Political System of India:

In India regional political parties are being founded in good numbers. There is no region in the country which has no regional parties. Each such party has influence within its own region and over shadows even the national parties at the time of elections in some states.

It thrives on the exploration of ethnic, cultural, communal, lingual and similar other feelings of the people of the region. These protect the interests of the region first and nation later on. These lake up such issues which concern the region and their aim is to capture power in the region but some regional leaders aspire to become national leaders as well and aspire capture power at the national level.

Though at the national level it is felt by many that mush room growth of regional level parties is not in the national interest, but even then large number of national level parties have come into existence and their number is ever increasing for which several causes are responsible.

In some cases these parties come into existence as a protest against too much interference in the affairs of the state while in others because of the over ambitiousness of some regional leaders who feel that they have no future at the national level. Some leaders find a new political party when they find that in the existing political set up they can get nothing.

In some cases regional political parties are founded because regional people find that the central leadership has neglected their economic development and that the region will not develop unless there is a regional party to raise a voice for the region. Still another reason being that some regions wish to maintain their separate entity at all costs and these do so by founding a separate regional party.

Regional level parties have established their utility in India, which becomes clear when these over shadow even the national political parties. These give concrete programmes for the development of the region and way in which regional problems should be solved. These also give expression to the aspiration of the people.

The people of the region extend their support to regional leaders, who form government in the region. Regional political parties draw the attention of the Parliament to regional issues and thus try to influence the policies of Central government.

These also try to make to the people conscious about their social and economic problems and also make efforts to politically educate them so that at the time of next elections they cast their vote consciously.

These have also made the national parties realise that without attending to their problems these cannot expect much from them at the time of next elections. Thus, these have made them feel the importance of balanced regional development approach. Thus, regional political parties have only shown an impact on the regions but have also considerably influenced national political scene.

But at the same time these undermine the importance of the country as a nation. These place region above nation. Thus stand on the way of national unity. Each even regional parties are friction ridden therefore, these divide state people in groups and different camps.

Some regional parties adopt an attitude of confrontation with central leadership. These thus waste their time in confrontations and retard development of the state to which they claim to represent.

The role of regional political parties became very pivotal after 1996 Lok Sabha elections when no national political party could get absolute majority in the Lok Sabha. Regional political parties like D.M.K.; TMC; Asom Gana Prashid and T.D.P decided not to side with B.J.P. which had been returned as the single largest party in the Lok Sabha.

On the other hand those decided to join proposed United Front being sponsored by so called secular forces. With their strength and support United Front was in a position, with the outside support of Congress (I) and some left parties to form government at the Centre.

These parties have joined the government as well. Within the United Front four regional parties have also formed a separated Federal Front. The role of regional political parties in national politics has considerably increased.

22. Problems of the Political Parties:

In the country where there is multi-party system and in which division of the parties has come to stay without any resentment by the electorates. The parties have been coming as well as going out of existence qrite of ten.

Each state has regional parties which play a part at a particular point of time whereas at other times their significance and role very much comes down in state politics. In our system there is too much importance for the leadership. As long as leader remains in the party, it continues, but after his departure party is faced with the problem of disintegration. That is why many political parties are formed in the name of an individual.

This creates several problem for healthy growth of political system.

There is also serious lack of discipline imparty set up. Any member finds that he has some following challenges the authority of leadership of his party. Those who leave their political party are not faced with the problem of starting a political career afresh on the one hand and on the other ac welcome in almost every other party on the other.

There is shortage of political leaders who have national image and whose political career is spotless and who are known for honesty and integrity. That is the reason that in spite of their best efforts opposition parties are not coming together.

Rise of regional parties and regional leadership has also added problems to present day political party system. The party system is also faced with the problem of black money which has made the contesting of election by small political parties very difficult.

This has increased the importance the corrupt and dishonest people and thus sincere people find it difficult to enter the election arena. In case effective measures are not immediately taken the situation is likely to go out of control.

It is healthy to note that both Supreme Court and the Election Commission of India showed keen interest about checking the role of money power during 1996 Lok Sabha and six state-Assembly elections going held in April-May, 1996. It was because of their interest that the elections were not costly and held in a very calm atmosphere.

Indian political party system is faced with the serious problem of criminalisation of politics. In each political party the number of criminals and goondas is increasing and that is making working of principled politics difficult on the one hand and reducing the role of sincere politicians still more problematic on the other.

Most of the political parties are not cadre based. The elections are not periodically held. In most of the cases a leader or few of them wield absolute power and they nominate all office bearers of different committees. Their functioning is undemocratic.

These are also faced with the serious problem of political defection. Because of costly elections these are to depend on donations from moneyed classes and after coming to power parties also considerably try to accommodate donors by giving them different types of favours.

The role of political parties also considerably comes down, if large number of independent members are returned to elected bodies. At the end of every elections in state Assemblies quite a good number of independent candidates win elections.

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Lydia Polgreen

India Keeps Its Glorious, Messy Tradition Alive

A photograph of several women in bright clothing standing in line in front of a yellow building.

By Lydia Polgreen

Opinion Columnist

Back in January, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India looked all but unstoppable, he visited the small city of Ayodhya for the unofficial start of his campaign to win a third term. The location was freighted with symbolism. For decades, Hindu nationalists had sought to build a temple in Ayodhya, at a spot they believe to be the birthplace of the Hindu god Ram. The only problem was that there was already a house of worship on the spot, a mosque built by a Mughal emperor in 1528. A Hindu mob had dismantled the mosque in 1992, setting off riots that killed 2,000 people, most of them Muslims. The ruins were a flashpoint of religious tensions in India for decades.

Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party promised to build the temple, and the lavish event at which Modi officially opened it was a showcase for that achievement. At the time it seemed like strong election-year messaging for a politician who built his career on the twin planks of Hindu nationalism and building a muscular new India. Unlike other politicians, the event implied, Modi made promises and kept them.

“It is the beginning of a new era,” he declared .

Feeling supremely confident, Modi had boldly asked the Indian electorate for something akin to a blank check to remake the country — control of 400 seats in Parliament in elections that began in April and concluded on June 1. And why shouldn’t he have been confident? India’s economy was the fastest-growing in the world. India had overtaken China as the world’s most-populous country. World leaders sought Modi’s support on issues ranging from the war in Ukraine to the climate crisis, cementing India’s ascent in global affairs.

But the ever unpredictable electorate of the world’s largest democracy responded to Modi’s demand for still more power resolutely: No thanks.

In a stunning rebuke, election results released on Tuesday showed that India’s voters have reduced the parliamentary share of Modi’s party by more than 60 seats , not enough for an outright majority, never mind the supermajority he had sought.

It struck me as particularly apt that despite all the fanfare about the glorious new temple in Ayodhya, Modi’s party lost the city’s parliamentary seat to a political opposition that had been all but left for dead.

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Essay on Indian Politics

Politics is like playing a game, as in-game there are many players or teams but the winner is one. In the same way, different political parties contest in an election and the winning party is the ruling party. It is necessary for the formation of the Governing body in the nation and its working. The Indian political system functions according to the constitution. Corruption, greed, poverty, illiteracy has been deteriorating Indian Politics.

Short and Long Essay on Indian Politics in English

Brief information about Indian Politics is provided in the form of a long essay which will be helpful to the students of classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and university students.

Indian Politics Essay 10 Lines (100 – 150 Words)

1) Politics plays an important role in choosing the government.

2) The ruling, as well as the opposition party, forms Indian politics.

3) Indian politics plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth functioning of the government.

4) In India, different political parties are supporting different leaders.

5) The people involved in politics are termed, politicians.

6) Indian politics consists of state and central government bodies.

7) Corruption, greed, selfishness, etc reflects the black side of Indian politics.

8) Due to wrong practices, Indian politics is turning dirty.

9) Political parties make us aware of the policies and their achievements.

10) Indian National Congress, Bhartiya Janata Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, etc are some famous political parties in India.

Short Essay on Indian Politics (250 words)

Introduction

Government, its formation, and smooth working are the most important things in democratic nations. It can only be possible by politics. Politics has a major role in the formation and smooth functioning of the government. Politics can be referred to as the system of governance that is essential for making people abide by the rules and laws in the nation.

India is stated as the largest democracy in the world. There is a parliamentary type of government in India where the powers are vested in the Prime minister and the President is the nominal head of the state. Indian politics comprises the ruling party as well as the opposition party. In other words, it can be said that Indian politics represents the people of India. The politicians representing the different political parties come from the common people of India. They are elected by the process of elections.

Polity System in India

There is a dual polity system in India. It consists of central government and state governments. They have to work according to the Indian constitution. The powers and limitations of the central and state government are well defined in the constitution of India. The Supreme Court is the supreme authority of the judicial system in India.

Weakening of Indian Politics

The excessive corruption, greed, injustice, and hatred have given a bad name to Indian politics. At present, there are more than 100 political parties in existence in India. Most of the politicians have forgotten their duty towards the nation and people and are involved in doing corrupt politics. They use power and wealth to win the elections. In this way, Indian politics and democracy is weakened and deteriorated.

There have been great leaders in Indian politics who have served the nation in past. The fate of Indian politics can only be changed if the people of the nation become aware of their powers and rights. The right decision of the people can help in bringing the revolution into Indian politics.

Long Essay on Indian Politics and Politicians (500 – 600 Words)

Indian politics is related to the attaining or transfer of power from one political party to another after elections. The successful formation of government is possible due to Indian politics. The government helps in the proper functioning and development of the country. Indian National Congress won the first general election in 1951 after Independence and ruled for many years. It was succeeded by different ruling parties till 2014 when Bhartiya Janta Party became the ruling party by majority after winning the elections of 2014 and 2019.

Parliamentary Form of Government in India

India is a secular democratic country. There is the existence of a parliamentary form of government in India. In this type of government, the real head of the country becomes Prime Minister with whom all the powers are vested. The president is called the nominal head of the country.

The people of the country are free to select the representative of their choice. Every citizen of the country above 18 years of age has the right to vote. The government is formed for a period of five years.

Political Parties in Indian Politics

India has become a democratic nation after its independence from British rule. Democracy is related to the concept of government to be formed by the choice of people. Political parties are groups that are formed by the different sections and regions. Numerous political parties were formed after independence. The parties are designated as National and State political parties.

It is essential for a political party either national or State to have a symbol as a sign of their party. Symbols for the political parties are necessary as people can easily recognize the party and can vote properly. The political parties need to be registered with the Election Commission of India. The different political parties make people aware of the different programs and policies. They also tell about the achievements made by their party in the ruling period by arranging rallies and campaigns in order to ask for votes.

The different political parties in the Indian Political system are Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress Party, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Aam Aadmi Party, etc.

Negative Phase of Indian Politics

There are a lot of problems existing in Indian politics. They need to be ended for the betterment and development of the nation.

The most important factor which is weakening Indian politics is corruption. The process of paying bribes for the completion of wrong deeds but presented in the right manner. There is a lot of corruption in government jobs. Every year most of the recruitments are done on the basis of depositing excessive money to the politicians. This is darkening the future of bright students and the country too. The politicians also bribe people to get their votes.
The politicians before the election are so polite and shower a bundle of promises and policies. The scenario changes after they win the election. They do not care about people and the problems faced by them. They are busy in money-making and exercising the power for their own benefit.
The right person could never win the elections because of the already existing powerful politicians. They win the election by applying different tactics. They distribute money and alcohol to the public. The poor people are in need of money therefore they are easily trapped in fake promises of such politicians.
The politicians of the ruling party never want to lose power and control. They continuously spread fake rumours, talk rubbish about them, and bribe media to spread false information. This way false information spread in the public, paving the way for the existing party to win again.
Most of the political parties are having insufficient youth participation. There are leaders of old age and they are still in power serving the public. The reality is that they could not walk properly neither could read nor see in an efficient manner. The parties are carrying these personalities because of their personal interest. These people must be replaced by young leaders with a lot of potentials.

Indian politics is a mixture of good, bad, and worst experiences. The people are granted power in a democratic country to form the government of their choice. This choice must be made in a rational way so that the development of the nation would be possible in a fair manner.

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

Ans . Politics is termed a set of activities that are necessary for governing the nation or state. It is the exercise of power.

Ans . India is a democratic nation with a parliamentary form of government. The president is the nominal head and real powers are vested in Prime Minister.

Ans . There are 545 seats in Lok Sabha and 250 seats in Rajya Sabha.

Ans . The Rajya Sabha consists of 250 members, 238 representing the states and union territories while 12 members are nominated by the President of India.

Ans . Politicians after winning the election misuse the power and make a lot of money and develop businesses instead of fulfilling the demands of people and solving their issues.

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Essay on Political Parties in India

In a modern democratic political system of India, with governments based on Parliamentary model, political parties are central to the working of the political system.

Political parties in Indian Democracy grow up the as spokesman of organized interests. Thus, a Political party system in India is an organization of like minded people based together either to preserve and promote group interests or to promote a particular ideology. Usually every party seeks to promote some particular interest and ideology. The political party constantly seeks to capture governmental powers to secure its ends. In a democracy, the party gets into power through elections.

In a Parliamentary system such of India, the political party winning the majority of seats in the Lower House of the Parliament forms the Government, while the Party or Parties failing to get the majority constitutes the opposition. Thus the Parliamentary government is always a Party government. It may be the government of a single party or it may be the government of a coalition of parties.

The existence of different political parties has many advantages. The citizens of our country can experiment with the different parties alternately. They give chance to one party with a set of programs. They can see whether these political parties are doing good work for the country. After some times they try another party with another set of programs and see how far these are superior to their predecessors.

The nature of political party system in India was characterized by Morris Jhones as a dominant one party system. It means that India basically has a multi-party system but one among the many parties is dominant party and monopolizes governmental power. Since independence up to the 4th general election in 1947 this was precisely the picture. The Congress party was in power during all the twenty years from 1947-67 both at the centre and in the states with a brief exception in Kerala in 1958. The 1967 elections saw the fall of the Congress monopoly in several states where unstable coalitions were established. The sixth General Election in 1977 witnessed the fall of the Congress at the centre. The Janata Government was established. But the Janata experiment soon failed. For Janata was in reality an unstable coalition. The Congress gained back its power in 1980. Then there was a B.J.P. coalition government at the centre and in few states. Then, Congress remained in power from 2004 to 2014.

In the election of 2014, B.J.P got the majority and formed the central Government under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi.

On the basis of their influence and aspirations, parties in India fall into two categories:

All India politicalparties and
Regional political parties.

Thus the Congress (I) or the Jananta Dal or the Bharatiya Janata Party (B.J.P) are truly All India parties having some sort of influence throughout India and having All India aspirations.

There are some other political parties which are professedly All India parties but their influence is limited to particular regions. They may be classed us regional parties with All India aspirations. The Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India, the Forward Block, the Revolutionary Socialist Party (R.S.P), Trinamool Congress etc. fall into this category. The influence of the C.P.I. (M) for example is concentrated in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura.

The regional political parties are those which are frankly regional in their aspirations emphasizing their ethnic or linguistic identities. The D.M.K. or the A.I.A.D.M.K. in Tamil Nadu, the Telugu Desham in Andhra, and the A.G.P. in Assam or the National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir fall into this category.

On the basis of ideology, there is existence of various types of political parties in India such as conservative, liberal democratic and revolutionary parties.

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