Political scientists throughout the world are divided in their opinions on the importance of parties in a democracy, but the fact remains that the parties do exist and play vital roles in all modern democratic states and indeed in most states, whatever their ideological orientation. If India is to survive as a moving generally in the democratic direction, it must evolve a healthier party system or develop some effective alternatives to parties.
Almost all modern societies, democratic or totalitarian, developed or modernizing, large or small have some sort of party system. Though the written Constitution of India, like many other written Constitutions of the world, does not acknowledge the existence of political parties, yet they are central to our political process. They are both inevitable and necessary. They are inevitable because they are the only means whereby power can be obtained and exercised in an organized way. They are necessary because they form a bridge between the government and the governed which gives meaning to representative system. Political parties are indispensable link between society and the government. In all modern democratic systems, political parties play a decisive role. However, in the third world countries, except India, free competition for popular support between different parties is rare. In India, after six decades of representative government and general elections, it has maintained a parliamentary system based on competitive and free elections.
In a political system,parties act as the carrier of ideas, opinions and approaches to social needs and national goals. Parties provide a link between the citizens and the government, between the electorate and the representative institutions. In fact a successful democracy requires a healthy party- system for its existence. Political parties are instruments through which citizens choose those who constitute the government. They explain merits and dangers of alternate policies and provide political education to the citizens. Political parties are extra constitutional institutions which are crucial in running democratic government of a country. They are essential for the proper functioning of different types of democratic government. The successful democratic functioning of any government depends upon the healthy political party system. According to Finer, Political Parties are “organised bodies with voluntary membership, their concentrated energy being employed in the pursuit of political power”.
In a democratic political system the most important institution is the political party. Between the social and political systems a sub-system is being provided by political parties. The strength of political party cannot be determined by its electoral performance alone. The status of members, the assimilative capacity of its ideology, its strength in the trade union field, the capacity for propaganda, influence over the key centers of the economy, the capacity for neutralizing the electoral strength of the other parties, etc. may be reckoned as the potential though not manifest strength of a political party.
MAIN FEATURES OF INDIAN PARTY SYSTEM
Indian party system is different from the party system in the western democracies. Some critics say that India has parties, but no party system. They argued that there are many political parties, big and small in the country. At the same time there is nothing like emotional or psychological attachment of the people to a particular party or parties.
Main features of the Indian party system are the following:
1. One Dominant Party System:
India in the words of Morris Jones, is not a “one party state but it is a one dominant party system”, since independence a large number of parties came into being, but the Congress has managed to retain a dominant position. The Indian National Congress enjoyed wide popular support all over the country till 1967 election. It was the ruling party at the Centre between 1947 and 1977, 1980-1989, and 1991-1996. Towards the last decade of both centuries, Indian party system took a new turn with a multi –party system dominated by the regional parties.
Even after the split of 1969, the Congress under the leadership of Mrs. Indira Gandhi, managed to maintain its dominant position at the Centre as well as in most of the states. In the 1971election to the LokSabha Mrs. Gandhi swept the polls and the Congress returned to power with a three –fourth majority. An extra constitutional centre of power was created under the leadership of her younger son Sanjay Gandhi. This character of the Congress party led to the declaration of internal emergency in1975. Another election was hold in March 1977, which led to the defeat of the Congress.
With the disintegration of the Janata Party in 1979, Mrs. Indira Gandhi again came to power in the 1980 LokSabha elections. In 1984 Rajiv Gandhi came to power as a result of the assassination of Mrs. Gandhi. In the 1989 election, the National Front under the Prime Minister shipof Sri.V.P. Singh came to power by defeating the Congress under Rajiv Gandhi. The Congress under the leadership of Prime Minister P.V Narasimha Rao came to power as a result of 1991 elections. In 1996 election United Front under the leadership of Deva Gowda and later I .K Gujral came into power at the centre. The eleventh LokSabha came to an end in December 1997. In the 1998 and 1999 LokSabha elections no single party got majority. A United Front under the leadership of AtalBihari Vajpayee formed the government with the support of number of parties. Since 1998, Indian party system became a multi-party system with coalition government.
2. Mushroom growth of PoliticalParties:
There has been a mushroom growth of national, regional, communal and personalist political parties in India. No other democratic country has such a multiplicity of parties. Most of them came into existence after the disintegration of the Janata Party in 1979. Today the Congress [I], The Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India [Marxist], The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal, Bahujan Samaj Party and National Congress Party are the only parties of national significance .In India, the law does not regulate the formation and functioning of political parties most of the political parties have no mass base.
3. Regional Political Parties
Another feature of the Indian party system is that each state has its own political parties. Most of these regional parties have no ideological commitments. They represent the interest of particular linguistic, religious, regional, and ethnic, caste or cultural groups. Some of them are communal in character, others are openlyseparatist. Most important regional parties are National Conference in Jammu & Kashmir, DMK and AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, Akali Dal in Punjab, Telugu Desam in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala Congress and Muslim League in Kerala etc.
4. Role of Caste and Communal Parties
Caste and community play an important role in the working of the Indian party system. Some parties are openly communal in character. The other parties which claim to be secular are not free from caste and communal considerations. Every party chooses its candidates according to the caste and communal composition of the constituency. Even appeal to the voters as well as selection of ministers is on caste on communalbasis.
5. Lack of Ideological Commitment.
Ideology is considered to be the core of a political party. It is necessary for mobilizing its organization and to motivate its members. Despite functioning on the basis of ideological commitment, almost all political parties in India have stood to capture power to get power; the parties are ready even to sacrifice their ideology. Every party swears by Gandhism, democracy, socialism and secularism. Every so called secular party join hands with communal or caste parties in the formation of governments. In 1977, Jana Sangh was a constituent of the Janata party supported by communist parties, Muslim League and so on.
6. Role of Individuals.
Certain individuals of personalities dominated Indian parties. The leader of the party is often elected by its members but once elected the party functions according to the wishes and fancies of the leader. Some of the parties bear the name of their leader. For example, Congress [I] ,Congress [S], Lok Dal[A], Lok Dal[B] , Kerala Congress[M][J] and so on.
7. Defection.
Defection is a pervasive feature of Indian Party System. When India became independent there were two major parties only, Indian National Congress and the Communist Party of India. They were organizationally well built and commanded loyalty of their members. Today there is no such thing as party loyalty. Political defection has ruined the Congress and all other party that came into existence after independence. This epidemic led to the passing of the Anti –defection Law1985.
8. Organisational Drawbacks.
Except the Communist Parties and the BJP no party in India can claim some sort of party organization. Other parties are mere crowds without definite membership, organization or discipline. Most parties maintain no membership registers, keep no accounts and hold no organizational elections. The office bearers of these parties are either self-appointed or nominated by top leaders.
9. Fragmented Opposition.
The opposition in India is unable to constitute an alternative to the ruling party. They have neither been able to a strong opposition nor have they succeeded in creating a United Front in 1977, for the first time the Janata constituted by a member of parties came to power but within two years it failed and disintegrated. Even today the opposition is not in a position to form a United Front because of the selfish style and interest of someleaders.
REGIONAL POLITICAL PARTIES
One of the notable features of the Indian Party System is the presence of a large number of regional parties. By regional party we mean a party which generally operates within a limited geographical area and its activities are confined only to a single or handful of states. Further as compared to the broad ranging diverse interests of national parties, the regional parties represent the interest of a particular area. In simple words, regional parties differ from All India parties both in terms of their outlook as well as the interests they pursue. Their activities are focused on specific issues concerning the region and they operate within the limited area. They merely seek to capture power at the state or regional level and do not aspire to control the national government. It is noteworthy that in India, the number of regional parties is much larger than the national parties and some of the States are being ruled by the regional parties, viz., Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, West Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir etc
It is suggested that a regional political party must satisfy three specific criteria. The first criterion must, naturally be the territorial differential. By its very nature, regional parties restrict its area of action to a single region or a state. The second criterion of a regional political party is that, typically, it articulates and seeks to defend a regionally based ethnic or religious-cultural identity. Thus DMK and AIDMK act as the voice and champions of Tamil cultural nationalism against the inroads of what is perceived as the Aryan imperialism of the north. In the third place, it is in the very nature of a regional party to be “primarily concerned with exploiting local sources of discontent or pressing a variety of prim or dial demands based on language, caste, community or religion”. This is so because the electoral destiny of these parties is incapably linked with their respective regions.
The emergence of regional parties in India has a geo-political rationale. India is a continental polity with a wide range of socio-cultural and ethnic diversities. Under condition of democratic culture, these diversities are bound to and indeed did aspire for political autonomy. One way of expression of political autonomy in a federation is the formation of regional parties and groups, in order to bargain with the center for a better regional development.
ROLE OF REGIONAL AND STATE PARTIES
In India, each state has its own political parties. Most of these regional parties have no ideological commitments. They represent the interest of particular linguistic, religious, regional, and ethnic, caste or cultural groups. Generally they stand for greater autonomy for the states. Some of them are communal in character, others are openlyseparatist.
The most important of the state parties are the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam [DMK], All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam [AIADMK], Telugu Desham, Assam Gana Parishad, Akali Dal, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal [RJD], Trinmul Congress, Tamil Manila Congress [TMC] and National Conference. Some of these are of great significance in their localities, and can give the Congress stiff competition in these areas. They usually are built around a few leading personalities and emphasize communal, caste or sectional interests andloyalties. In their own localities a number of local parties or groupings have scored impressive victories. Notable among these were the Gantantra Parished and Utkal Congress in Orissa, the Jharkand party in Bihar, Samyukta Maharashra Samiti and the Maha Gujarat Janata Parishad in Maharashtra and Gujarat sections of Mumbai state, Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, Akali Dal in Punjab, DMK and ANNA-DMK in Tamil Nadu, National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir, the Muslim League in Kerala and SP in Uttar Pradesh.
The Akali Dal in Punjab, the National Conference in Jammu Kashmir, and the AIDMK and DMK in Tamil Nadu have become a powerful political force in their respective states. Barely, six months after coming into existence, Telugu Desam successfully stormed the Congress stronghold in Andhra Pradesh. The Assam GanaParishad was formed in the fall of 1985, and was swept to power by the year end. For some years, Congress has had an informal alliance with the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu and it joined Farooq Abdullah’s coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir. The All Party Hill Leaders Conference [APHLC], which was mainly responsible for the creation in 1970 of an autonomous tribal state of Meghalaya within the state of Assam and the Nagaland nationalist organization, which had been continuously in power since the state of Nagaland was formed in 1963, are parties of regional outlook. In West Bengal, the Bangla Congress, Forward Block and Socialist Unity Centre, the Bangla Congress and the Trinamool Congress in west Bengal, the Kerala Congress in Kerala and Tamil Manila Congress [TMC] in Tamil Nadu were outstanding examples of political groups that were formed almost exclusively by dissident Congressman. An outstanding example was the BharatiyaKranti Dal [BKD] which won 98 seats in the U.P Assembly in the mid-term elections in1969.
Regional parties in state politics are a greater force and they have captured the governmental power from the hands of All- India Parties in states like Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Mizoram, Sikkim, Nagaland, Goa, Orissa, Meghalaya, Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir. In Indian politics they are gradually emerging as a powerful force. For example, in the 1977 and 1980 LokSabha elections, regional parties won 52 and 35 seats respectively. After the Congress split of 1969, Mrs. Gandhis government at the centre had depended on the support of regional parties like DMK. In the 8 thLokSabha, Telugu Desam, aregional party had the largest number of MPs from the opposition bench. After the verdict of the ninth LokSabha elections, regional parties like DMK and TDP, as a partner of National Front swept to power at the Centre.
The outcome of the 12th and 13thLokSabha elections [1998 and 1999] brings home the truth that the path to power in this society lies in the creation of political, regional and social alliances. The BJP with its allies has emerged as the largest vote capturer in the country. The BJP led coalition embraces the entire gamut of Indian politics- from Akali Dal to AIADMK or DMK and from Samata to Trinamul. C.P Bhambhri has very lightly observed “The LokSabha elections of 1989, 1998 and 1999 provided an opportunity to major regional parties to play an important role in mainstream politics”
The Major Regional Political Parties
They are number of regional parties exist here, mostly short lived and often ad hoc purpose as a bargaining century. We will now discuss in somewhat more details those regional parties which are showing some stable characteristics.A brief sketch of the ideologies of some such parties is given below.
1.Akali Dal
It is the oldest and the most powerful party in Punjab. For more than 80 years it is spearheading the cause of Sikhs. The party membership is confined to Sikhs. Though of late some non-sikh members are given the party symbol to contest elections it is very rare. There is a social component involved in the structure of the party. This party is supported by rich Jat Sikh peasantry. The Scheduled Castes among the Sikhs do not find any place in the party’s high ranks. The major interest of the party lies in increasing the prosperity of the Sikh peasantry.
Historically the Akali movement started around 1920’s. To begin with it was a socio-religious reform movement but soon got converted into a political one. Around 1940, it demanded an independent state for Sikhs. But after partition the demand was abandoned and instead the party insisted for forming a separate state for Punjabi speaking people. For the first time in 1950’s the Akali Dal started an agitation for carving out a separate state. It was in 1966, that demand got fulfilled. It is both a religious and political party. Religiously, it wants the protection of Sikh Panth. Any interference with the affairs of Gurudwaras is treated as an attack on their Panth. The bitterness after ‘operation blue star’ is the example of Sikh sentiments. The sentiment might be shared by all the sikh people cutting across the political lines but it is the Akali Dal and such other Sikh political organizations who articulate the sentiments in a more politically profound manner.
Apart from protecting the sanctity of Sikh panth the Akali Dal also has certain definite views on constitutional provisions regarding Federal Structure. It stands for the state’s autonomy. In a resolution the party demanded “centre’s sphere should be limited to foreign affairs, defence and communication”. In October 1973, the Akali Dal passed a resolution which comes to be known as ‘Anandapur Sahib Resolution’. This resolution gave a clear picture of the goals for which the party stands.
Some of the points in the resolution are controversial as for instance treating Sikhs as a separate qaum-nation.
The main points are as under:
1) The Akali Dal is the very embodiment of the hopes and aspirations of the sikh nation (qaum). It is fully entitled to its representation.
2) The concept of a distinct and independent identity of Panth should be recognized.
3) The political goal is the pre- eminence of the Khalsa.
4) Restrict the centre’s authority to defence, foreign relations, currency and communication only.
2. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(D.M.K.)
In the Tamil speaking areas of south India, a movement to stress the separate identity of Dravidians started around 20’s. It was basically a revolt against Brahminical domination. E.V.R. who was with Congress left the party on ideological ground – that the party is dominated by North Indians. The party named Dravida Kazhagam (D.K.) was formed in 1945. It developed a thesis that the South Indians – Dravidians are original inhabitants. The Aryans came from outside India, They drove the Dravidians down to south and established their imperialism. The North-South division is clear and candid. So the traditional Hindu religion which is based on Vedas, Sanskrit literature is denounced as cultural imperialism of Aryans. The Brahmins were accused of helping to spread Aryan culture down the south. The animosity against Brahmins made E.V.R. to deny the existence of God. The copies of Ramayana the holy book of Hindus were burnt to protest the Aryan expansion. For D.K. Ravana is a Dravidian hero. Such type of fanatical ideologies permeated around 40’s and 50’s. There was a time when Dravidian parties wanted to form a separate independent state out of India.
However, with the formation of Indian constitution the earlier demand for secession was given up. Now the demand is more for state autonomy. The D.K. was split and a new party the D.M.K. was formed. It faced many political upheavals. It partly moderated its demands. But the two main planks of ideology remain intact. It is totally opposed to Hindi as the national language. Its opposition to Hindi is rather based on illogical foundation. Because Hindi is supposed to be closer to Sanskrit and since Sanskrit represents Brahninical culture, the acceptance of that language would amount to enslavement to Aryan culture. Its fanatical approach to language issue remains intact. In its new demand for greater state autonomy the party wants the constitution to be amended to secure ‘Utmost autonomy to the states’. A constitutional amendment to provide English to be continued as an official language and to delete the provision empowering Hindi as national language is demanded. In social field the party stands for reservation in Jobs and such pro-active measures. It is being recognized as champion of Backward Castes because to opposition to Brahmins. Though critics say the party is dominated of certain specific castes like Nadars, Mudliars and Scheduled Castes have no place in important positions in the party. D.M.K. wants the article 356 to be removed. It opposes the power of centre to impose the President’s rule in states. While agreeing on almost all issues on foreign policy of Indian govt., it strongly feels for the Tamils in Sri Lanka. It is opposed to Sri- Lanka govt’s policy towards the Tamils and had lent support to Tamil’s right in Sri Lanka.
Recently it forced the central govt. to abandon its proclaimed policy of noninterference in other countries affairs by international organization and made the govt. to vote in favour of a U.N. resolution condemning Sri Lanka army excesses on Tamil civilians and calling for international observations. This is clearly a pressure tactics and D.M.K. uses it very calculatedly. For the party Tamils interests pre-dominants the other. Whether it is inter-state water dispute like Cauvery or the height of MuIIaperiyar dam in Kerala D.M.K. never looks beyond the narrow Tamil internets.
The party split in 1972 and a new party by the name AIADMK (All INDIA Anna Dravida Munnetra Kajagam) was formed by M.G.Ramachandran whofell fromD. M.K. chief Karunanidhi. The party faced many ups and downs after the demise of the founder M.G.R. but under the charismatic leadership of Jayalalita the party has become very strong and currently ruling Tamil Nadu. The party accepted ‘Annaism’ as the basis of its ideology. It is a combination of self-respect of Tamils, Parliamentary Democracy, rationalism and Democracy. In economics it stands for socialism and public sector. Creation of casteless society is another ideal of the party. Basically there is no difference in ideology between D.M.K. and AIADMK. But the attitude of AIADMK towards issues like culture, language, Indian religious sentiments is more tolerable and flexible. It did not subscribe to the view of north vs. south. Nor it is opposed to Hindu religion and customs. Infact Jayalalita is chief minister advised the central govt. to allow Hindus to construct Ram temple at Ayodhya. The concepts of anti-Hindi, anti-north do not find much space in party’s ideology. On economic issues, the party is opposed to FDI in retail trade and criticized the fresh liberalization measures undertaken by govt. When the central govt. wanted to form a body to fight terrorist activities Jayalalita took the lead in opposing that move, as she argued it would encroach upon the powers of state. In this endeavour she joined hands with NarendraModi, the C.M. of Gujrat. So basically a federalist party AIDMK leader wants the states to have greater say on public policy measures.
3. Shivsena
The party was formed by Bal Thackeray around 1967. It stands for Justice for Marathi people. Its argument is local Maharashrian Youth are denied Job opportunities because of influx of outsiders. It stands for ‘sons of soil’ theory which proclaims 80% jobs be reserved for local youth. Originally the party started as the anti-communist party, but later made alliances with many parties. The party takes inspirations from historical figures like Shivaji who is credited to be the pride of Marathi culture. It wants Marathi should be used in all official correspondence. It had strong views on inter-state boundary disputes. The border dispute with Karnataka is very emotional significance to the party. It had resorted to violent demonstrations seeking the merger of Marathi speaking areas like Belgam into Maharashtra. It stands for the unity of Maharashtra and is opposed to formation of Vidharbha as a separate state.
The party also exhibited fervent nationalism and has openly spoken against Muslim communalism. It was once anti-north but of late it has become anti-Muslim. The party prides itself in ‘Hindutva’ philosophy and has alliance with the BJP. Though many time it takes a different stand from the BJP on issues concerning Marathi interest. The party basically revivalist in nature is also trying to expand the base by forging alliance with one of the splinter group of the Republican Party of India. (Aathwale faction) The party faced split when a new faction in the name of Maharashtra NavNirmanSena was formed.
4. TelguDesam:-
This is a comparatively new political phenomenon in Andhra politics which had a strong Congress foot hold, started in 1982 by the film star N. T. Rama Rao. As mentioned earlier, the party originated as a reaction to Indira Gandhi’s policy of frequently changing unpopular chief ministers and imposing them on the Andhra Pradesh. The party emphasizes the Telugu people’s self- respect and pride. Delhi’s intervention meant the Telugu people are incapable of self- government. This had caught up with regional pride. Basically the party follows populist policies. N.T.R. started 2 rupees ‘Rice Scheme’, for poor people and was very popular despite heavy losses to public exchequer; similarly the reservation of lower castes, old age pensioners, was announced. Telugu Desam like all regional parties stands for greater state autonomy. But there is no animosity against other states, nor did the party ever speak of secession. The party took a lead in forming National Front and installed a non-congress govt. at Centre.
The party faced internal revolt and with the death of N.T. Rama Rao, his son-in law who managed the revolt took the reins of the party. The new ideology of Telugu Desam is rather vague. To begin with it pleaded for technological revolution and computer knowledge for all social evils, did not give importance to agriculture and faithfully implemented the World Bank programme. After losing power the party is trying to win back popular support by announcement of populist schemes like free power supply to farmers, writing off loans to farmers and increase in reservation to the O.B.C. Recently the party wants legislative seats to be reserved to the O.B.C.s. To prove its secular image it got itself distanced from its one timely B.J.P. and announcing reservation for Muslims. Opposing liberalization, reformation measures the party is befriending with leftist forces at state and national level.
5. National Conference
The party is confined to Jammu and Kashmir. It wants the separate status of J& K to remain intact. It prepared a report called National Conferences’ Autonomy Report (1999).
Following are the main points of the report.
1) Grant permanent status to Article 370, the existing provision is deemed to be a temporary measure.
2) Put J& K out of the ambit of the Supreme Court and the Election commission.
3) Reserve all subjects except Defence, External affairs and Communication for the state.
4) Change the nomenclature of J & k Governor to Sadar e- Riyasat and chief minister to Prime Minister.
5) Review Centre – state financial relations. Comptroller and Auditor General’s, Scrutiny should not apply to J & K of course, this autonomy plan was rejected by various political parties.
But the spirit behind the resolution shows the N.C. is not still prepared to accept the truth that J & K is a part of Indian Union. Though not openly advocating secession it is aiming to weaken the centre power as much as possible and wants to carve out a separate political entity for itself. There was also demand for withdrawing the army from disturbed areas and removing the Army Special Power Act. All these developments are a challenge to Union govt. How it can win the confidence of local people and keep the unity of country intact is the crucial issue.
