Democracry and party system go together. In a democracry where representatives in the assemblies are elected through free and fair elections, where people have liberty of thoughts and expression and to criticise the government, the emergence of political parties is a natural process. Political parties in India are not the outcome of establishment of democratic rule after independence. They were already there during the British rule. They criticised the working of British rule and fought for freedom. The first party was established in India in 1885. It was called Indian National Congress. It played a dominant role in freedom movement and has been the dominant political party after independence. In addition to the Congress, there are many other parties also in India. Some of them are all India parties and majority of them are regional parties.
Party system in India
Party system had its origin in India in 1885 when Indian National Congress was formed. Though the founder of this party Mr. A.O. Hume wanted to organise an association of educated Indians to act as a link between the government and the masses, it took the shape of a national party and started discussing national problems and demanded some concessions for the Indians. Later it adopted Swaraj as its aim and fought for complete independence for India. Later on other parties also appeared on the political scene. After independence many more parties came into being but in the first general elections of 1952 the Congress Party was voted to power both in the centre and the states. It has been dominant in the Centre up to 1989. Today there are many parties active in the political field and they have provided stability to our political system. Because of party system Indian democracry has faced no threat from dictatorial forces.
Features of Indian party system
Starting from a single party in 1885, party system in India has passed through various steps and is heading towards full development. Main features of Indian party system are given below:
Multi-party System : There are many political parties active on the political scene in India. Soon after independence the first general elections were held in 1952. In this election 4 all-India parties had participated. The number increased thereafter. In 1984, there were seven all-India parties in the field in Lok Sabha election in addition to many regional parties. In November 1989 Lok Sabha elections there were 8 all-India parties in the field. In 1998 general election, there were 7 national parties in the field and no party could gel absolute majority. There are so many parties that participate in the general elections that it becomes difficult to remember them. Since 1998 coalition governments have been in existence in India.
One Dominant Party System : Indian party system is multi-party system with one dominant party. The Congress has been dominating the political scene at the centre. It was voted out of power only twice, once in 1977 and the second time in November, 1989. But Janata Party Government of 1977 could not complete its full term. Midterm poll had to be held in 1980 when the Congress Party was voted to power again. V.P. Singh government installed in December, 1989 also could not complete one year and was voted out in the Lok Sabha in November, 1990. Midterm poll was held in May-June 1991. In the states also the Congress party has dominated the political scene. It was in 1967 that the Congress was voted out of power in nine states. Now-a-days many regional parties have been formed and they have given a setback to the Congress in some States. In 1996, 1998 and 1999 and 2004 elections also no single party was voted to power.
Pathetic Position of the Opposition Parties : In Indian there has not been a strong and effective opposition. There are many parties in the opposition and they have not been able to unite and give a united opposition to the Congress in the legislature and in the elections. Consequently these parties had to lose heavily in the elections. No single opposition party has been able to prove an alternative to the Congress Party. Their alliance even if voted to power does not last long as it happened in 1977 and 1989 and 1996. In Lok Sabha elections of 1984 opposition parties of all-Indian level were completely rooted out. A regional part, Telugu Desham Party alone could capture 30 seats whereas six all India opposition parties could win 43 seats. In the 1989 elections they joined hands and won joint majority and National Front Government was installed in December, 1989. But they could not remain united and there was a split of Janata Dal, in October-November 1990. A breakaway group of Janata Dal under the name Janata Dal (S) formed ministry with outside support of Congress (1) This did not work for long. Mid-term poll was held in May-June, 1991 and Congress won more than 225 seats but not a clear majority. B.J.P. has come up as the second largest party with more than 120 seats. Janata Dal has secured 55 seats and Leftist parties and captured 55 seats. Thus the opposition parties in India are in a deplorable position. In 1966, 1998 and in 2004 coalition government were formed.
Ideological Vagueness : It is very difficult to make distinction between the political parties on ideological basis in India. It is not easy to find difference between the ideologies of Congress (I), Congress (S), Janata Party, and other socialist parties. All stand for socialist pattern of society, secularism and upliftment of the poor. It is also not easy to make ideological difference between C.P.I, and C.P.M. The reason is that most of the parties are break-away groups because of differences between the leaders on one point or the other. Whenever an influential leader could not have his say in the party, he formed another party of a similar title. In November, 1990 Janata Dal was split and the break-away group assumed the name of Janata Dal (S).
Parties Based on Personality
Cult : Most of the parties in India are based on personality cult. Congress (I) menas Congress (Indira Gandhi) which means the Cognress party led by Mrs. Indira Gandhi, Congress (J) was a party led by Mr. Jagjivan Ram, Janata Party is split into many groups named after the leader. Lok Dal was a party led by Charan Singh. A leader of the party generally leads, till his death and does not let other persons to be elected its leader. The parties function according to the wishes of their leaders not according to some system or organisation.
DMK and AIADMK in Tamilnadu is fully under control of Karunanidhi and Jayalalitha respectively. The only say in Telugu Desam Party is of Chandra Babu Naidu.
Lack of Stability : Indian political parties also lack stability. Hardly there is a party which has not faced splits. Divisions and splits have been swift and often in almost all the parties. Indian National Congress was split many times, PSP, SSP, Congress (I), Congress (O), Congress (S), Congress (J) were many groups out of Indian National Congress. There were splits in Communist Party of India. There are two national level communist parties—CPI and CPM. Bhartiya Kranti Dal, BLD, Dalit Kamgar Kisan Party, Janata Dal, Janta Dal (S) can also be quote as examples of splits and division. BJP was previously known as Bhartiya Jan Sangh, and can boast of stability and continuity to some extent. Frequent splits, divisions and mergers have been responsible for the instability of party system.
Communal Parties : In India there are many political parties which have communal basis. These parties have existed and flourished by exploiting the religious sentiments of the people. They have mixed politics with religion. These parties are National Conference, Akali Dal, Muslim League, Hindu Mahasabha, Kerala Congress Jamaet-i-Islami, Shiv Sena. They appeal for vote in the name of religion and exist for that particular religion. India is a secular state, but such political parties have poisoned the secular atmosphere of the state.
Regional Parties in Plenty : There are numerous regional parties and they have played effective role in the political field in the recent past. In many states the regional parties have come to power whereas the Congress Party—was in power in the centre. Assam Gana Parishad has had its government in Assam. Telugu Desam has had its government in Andhra Pradesh, DMK and AIADMK have had their hold in Tamil Nadu. National Conference is powerful in Jammu and Kashmir, Akali Dal has had its influence in Punjab.
Factionalism : Almost all parties of national level or state level have functions and groups in them. A faction is known by the leader of the group. Congress Party had to face split many times only due to these factions and these factions were responsible many times for the defeat of the party in the election. Every leader who wants to show his superiority or influence creates his group in the party with the pressure of which he can indulge in horse-trading and can also create a division or split in the party.
Opportunistic Alliances : In India there have been more of opportunists alliance than alliances based on principles and ideologies. Lok Dal forced a split of Janta Party in 1979 on the question of relations of BJP with RSS. But the same Lok Dal or Janta Dal agreed to join National Front with BJP. Janta Dal’s main aim in the election of 1989 was to oust the Congress from power and always ruled out any possibility of an alliance with the Congress. In November, 1989 Janta Dal leaders Chandra Shekhar and Devi Lal formed Janta Dal (S) and formed government with the support of Congress. Congress had alliance with communal parties to form government. Thus opportunistic alliance are very common in Indian politics. Coalition governments formed in 1996 consisting of 13 parties and in 1998 consisting of 19 parties are lively examples of opportunistic alliance amongst the political parties in India. Same was the case in 2004 after the General Elections.
Registration of Political Parties : Every Political Party has to get itself registered with the Election Commission of India. According to the provisions of the Peoples Representation Act 1951, amended in 1988, it is obligatory for every party whether an all-India party or a regional party to apply within 80 days to its formation for registration with the Election Commission of India. In the application the party has to submit its named, head office, names of office bearers, constitution, of the party and a declaration that the party has faith in (i) Indian Constitution,
(ii) Democracry, (iii) Socialism,
(iv) Secularism. No organisation can function as political party without getting itself registered.
Recognised Opposition : Recognised Opposition is a special feature of Indian Party System. In the legislature the leader of the opposition is recognised officially if its strength is one-tenth or more of the total membership of the house. The recognised leader of opposition is given rank of a cabinet minister, office, and their facilities.
Constitutional Recognition to Political Parties : Today political parties stand constitutionally recognised in India. Anti-Defection Act of 1985 puts restrictions on legislators to defect after getting elected on party tickets. If a candidate put-up by a recognised political party expires before the start of the voting, the election of that constituency is postponed and the party is asked to provide his alternative.
Above characteristics point out of a peculiar nature of the Indian party system. It has its own merits as well as disadvantages. In spite of its weaknesses, the party system has helped in strengthening the roots of democracry in India. Indian democracry has been successfully developing and the party system has also contributed in it.
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