Lecture 4. The Indian party System 1

Structure of lecture• Introduction

– Significance of party system– 2004 General Election– 3 stages of party system development (Yadav)

• Phase of Congress dominance– Underlying factors– The ‘Congress system’ (Kothari)

• The Congress-Opposition phase– Underlying factors– Institutional decline of Congress Party

• Multi party phase

Importance of parties and voting in India

Results of 14th National General Election, 2004: seats in Lok Sabha

• Congress-dominated United Progressive Alliance 218

– (Indian National Congress 145)• BJP-dominated National Democratic Alliance 186

– (Bharatiya Janata Party 138)• Left Front 62

– (Communist Party Marxist (CPM) 43)• Others including

– Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) 19– Samajwadi Party (SP) 36

The development of the Indian party system (Yadav 1997)

• Single party dominance (1947-1967). – Congress Party dominated nationally and to a large

extent at state level.

• Congress-opposition system (1967-1993). – Congress remained the most prominent party at

national level but faced serious competition at the state level.

• Multi-party system (1993 onwards). – Congress no longer the pivotal force. Growth of

regional parties and coalitional politics.

Single party system (1947-67)

• Congress dominates national elections– In office continuously– Regularly polls over 40% of the vote and

secures over 70% of the seats

• No cohesive opposition– Other parties function as ‘pressure parties’

Reasons for early Congress Party dominance

• Initial advantage– Because based on nationalist movement

• Seen as representing nation• Able encompass diversity

– Existing link with government, ‘sarkar’

• Giving rise to further advantages..– Able to determine electoral system (FPTP)– Able to develop as ‘catch-all’ party

The ‘Congress system’ 1. ‘political competition was internalized and carried on within the

Congress. There developed an elaborate system of factions at every level of political and governmental activity, and a system of coordination between the various levels through various ‘faction chains’. Originating on the basis of individual competition between leaders, these factions were then built around a functional network consisting of various social groups and leader-client relationships ….. an intricate structure of conflict, mediation, bargaining, and consensus was developed within the framework of the Congress’ (Kothari 1964: 42).

2. Beyond Congress, other political parties operated as /parties of pressure’

Congress-opposition phase (1967-1993)

• Congress faced challenge at state level

• Two periods out of office at national level:– 1977-1979 (to the Janata coalition)– 1989-1991 (to the National Front coalition)

• Opposition parties stronger, periods of unity

Factors contributing to second phase

• Increasing economic discontent

• Increasing politicisation of marginal social groups

• Challenges to traditional leadership in Congress

Chronology of key developments

1964 Death of Nehru1966 Indira Gandhi becomes Congress leader1967 Fourth General and state assembly elections. Congress loses control in 8 out of 16 states1969 Split in Congress1971 Fifth General Election. Congress’ ‘landslide’ victory1975 National Emergency declared1977 Sixth General Election. Congress defeated by Janata1978 Congress splits again1979 Fall of Janata government1980 Seventh General Election. Congress (I) (Mrs Gandhi’s wing) wins.1984 Mrs Gandhi assassinated. Rajiv Gandhi is new Congress leader. Eighth General Election. Congress wins best ever electoral victory.1989 Ninth General Election. National Front government formed1991 Collapse of second National Front government. Tenth General Election. Rajiv assassinated half way through. New Congress leader Narasimha Rao.

Institutional decline of Congress through the 1970s and 80s

• Decline of independent state politicians– Increasing centralisation– Party support constructed from the top-down,

not bottom-up as before

• Rise of dynasty and personality cult– Personality more important than institution– Succession of Indira Gandhi by her son Rajiv

Gandhi

Dynasty and the Congress Party

Multi-party politics, 1993 onwards

• Congress no longer represents the focal point of electoral competition

• Rise of regional parties

• Rise of new national parties, especially the BJP

• No overall majority in parliament since 1989

• Emergence of Coalitions

To be continued…