Q. Analyze the emerging trends in Indian politics with facts and examples.
Ans:
The nature of politics keeps on changing with the passes of time and situations. Same is true for Indian politics . A lot of changes has taken place since independence and the process continues even now. Indian politics has developed its own incremental trends, primarily based on the influence of a pluralistic society with many minorities in terms of religion, caste, and language.
The emerging trends in Indian politics:
- The move towards centralisation of power and re-emergence of single dominant party since last two elections first time after two decades.
- These result was similar to the ones in elections held in the immediate post-independence era, when the Congress held electoral hegemony across the entire nation.
- Although the peoples’ trust in the Congress Party continued for about 15 years in the post-independence jubilation, by the late 1960s regional and caste-based parties had started to come to power in the states.
- However, Congress continued to win majority in the Central elections, staying in undisputed power and in control of the nation.
- By the early 1990s, yet another visible trend had manifested itself in the Indian electoral politics—the politics of coalitions.
- This was brought on by the regional parties making in-roads into national politics through the election of their representatives into the Central parliament.
- The result was that truly national parties could not get the majority to claim power and had to rely on these representatives to form government. The era of coalition governments had arrived.
- The National Front government in 1989, the United Front government in 1996 and 1997, the NDA government in 1997, 1998 and 1999 and then UPA government in 2004 and 2009 and again BJP-led NDA government in 2014 have been the coalition governments in India.
- Thus, the trend of coalition is gradually being reversed.
- However, pre-poll alliance is still prevalent.
- Decline of Congress: This process started after 1989 is more prominently visible in last 2 elections.
- The 2014 and 2019 elections changed this with the introduction of another trend. These elections moved towards being more presidential and the dynamics changed with one individual—in this case Mr Narendra Modi—being projected as the prime ministerial candidate.
- The shift in emphasis to national issues was country-wide, indicating a subtle shift in voter priority. Local issues, which were the focus of regional parties, were relegated to be dealt with at the State level. This trend could also be considered the maturing of the governance system within the democracy. Voters are now able to distinguish between issues. => Favoring one party for center but another/regional party for state assembly.
- As the electorate is becoming progressively younger, better educated and politically more aware, national issues are assuming greater importance. (1.5 crore voter with 18-19 years of age)
- Yet another trend that is noticeable, even in a cursory analysis, is the steady increase in the number of political parties and the number of candidates in successive elections from the first held in 1952.
- The increase in number of political parties could be attributed to a sense of dissatisfaction amongst the population of an extremely diverse nation. The dissatisfaction is also the root cause for the emergence of regional parties and the support that they get in the electoral process. However, in more recent times there is also rising awareness that regional parties tend to create and support biased agendas that may not be in alignment with national requirements.
- Altogether 8,039 candidates were in the fray for 542 parliamentary constituencies, i.e., 14.8 candidates per constituency on an average
- Total 8251 candidates contested the 2014 elections.
- More than 650 parties contested in these elections.
- The 2014 election was contested by 484 parties
- It is an indication of the growing sense of nationalism that the average person has an increasing realisation of India’s rise as a developing power in the world.
- The limits of identity politics:
- The regional parties’ emphasis on casteism and regionalism doesn’t seem to be giving adequate result. However, a broader Hindu identity seems to be emerging.
- Performance overpowering community identity. e.g. Various lower backward classes changed their voting pattern because of good delivery of welfare projects.
- The result shows the discontent against dynastic politics.
- Increasing voter trunout:
- 2019 election: Largest ever democratic exercise in the human history. Almost 90 crore eligible voters will cast their votes to elect their preferred candidates, out of which 1.5 crore individuals will vote for the first time.
- Highest ever voting turnout at 67.1% in 2019 election. Higher than 65.95% in 2014 election.
- Reduced gap between participation of men and women voter. Women has even more participation than men in various states.
- Growing consensus:
- However, on many crucial issues, a broad agreement has emerged among most parties. In the midst of severe competition and many conflicts, a consensus appears to have emerged among most parties. This consensus consists of four elements.
- First, agreement on new economic policies – while many groups are opposed to the new economic policies, most political parties are in support of the new economic policies. Most parties believe that these policies would lead the country to prosperity and a status of economic power in the world.
- Second, acceptance of the political and social claims of the backward castes – political parties have recognised that the social and political claims of the backward castes need to be accepted. As a result, all political parties now support reservation of seats for the ‘backward classes’ in education and employment. Political parties are also willing to ensure that the OBCs get adequate share of power.
- Third, acceptance of the role of State level parties in governance of the country – the distinction between State level and national level parties is fast becoming less important. The State level parties are sharing power at the national level and have played a central role in the country’s politics of last twenty years or so.
- Fourth, emphasis on pragmatic considerations rather than ideological positions and political alliances without ideological agreement – coalition politics has shifted the focus of political parties from ideological differences to power sharing arrangements.
- Thus, most parties of the NDA did not agree with the ‘Hindutva’ ideology of the BJP. Yet, they came together to form a government and remained in power for a full term.
- However, on many crucial issues, a broad agreement has emerged among most parties. In the midst of severe competition and many conflicts, a consensus appears to have emerged among most parties. This consensus consists of four elements.
- Broadening of affirmative action:
- Reservation in promotion.
- Extending the policy of reservation to economically deprived class as well.
- The political processes that are unfolding around us after the 1990s show the emergence of broadly four groups of parties:
- parties that are in coalition with the Congress;
- parties that are in alliance with the BJP;
- Left Front parties; and
- other parties who are not part of any of these three.
- The situation suggests that political competition will be multi-cornered. By implication the situation also assumes a divergence of political ideologies.
- New ways of campaigning: e.g. social media, virtual rallies etc.
- Moving towards more and more participative democracy through RTI, citizen charter, Social auditing and 360 degree appraisal.
- Also increasing role of civil societies, local governments etc. Helped immensely in fight with corona.
- Spread of civil society- e.g. there are more than 30 lakhs registered NGOs in India. These civil societies have contributed in the process of democratisation and even work as pressure groups.
- The push towards globalisation and growth of multilateral institutions has reduced the authority and autonomy of the state. e.g. WTO agreements impacting the economic policies.
However, some negative trends are also visible in Indian polity:
- Criminalisation of politics. e.g. Almost 70% of MLAs in Bihar’s new assembly face criminal charges.
- opportunistic alliances to obtain political power without any ideological affinity.
- e.g. Shiv sena and congress alliance in Maharashtra, BJP alliances in Bihar etc.
- Less inner party democracy.
- Declining position of legislature. Anti defection law limits them in exercising their conscience.
- Political horsetrading in various states e.g. in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh. The role of Governor and speaker is questioned at various instances.
- The problem defection continues even after anti-defection law has been enacted.
- Rising NOTA votes-> Loss of trust.
- Hate speech, violating model code of conduct.
- Increasing casteisation of politics and politicisation of caste.
- Weakening of RTI act.
- Growing corporate interventions: Political funding from corporates increased 107% between 2017-18 and 2018-19. The growing significance of corporate world in the political arena is shaping the politics as business entity.
- The political parties are sponsored by big business houses → The ideology of party is compromised.
- The media is not truly representing the voice of people it is increasingly being linked with the political parties. India is ranked 142nd out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2021 World Press Freedom Index.
Thus, numerous trends are visible in Indian politics. Going forward, there is need to fix the problems associated with the negative trends of polity. Only then the largest democracy of the world will become the most matured democracy of the world.
