Rise and Decline of Regional Parties and Changing Dynamics of Indian Democracy

Abstract

Political parties are major foundation of parliamentary and liberal democratic system. India, being a largest democratic country and has a plural social multi- ethnic structure it is natural for the regional parties to play important role in Indian democratic system. Rise and decline of regional parties’ role in Indian politics is closely linked to the deepening of democracy and federalism. While in the early period of independence due to the dominance of Indian National Congress party, regional parties role and states’ participation in decision making at national level was negligible. But the decline of the one party hegemony during 1980s and rise of the coalition politics provided more space for regional parties to play important role in decision making at the national level. But the end of the coalition politics after 15th Lok Sabha election and emergence of the Bhartiya Janata Party as dominant party, are putting the limit on the roles of regional parties and space for state in power sharing. While the coalition era provided more voices and space for regional parties and opportunities for power sharing to states with center, the rise of one party dominance again in fifteenth lok Sabha election is putting threat to the autonomy of states and regional parties’ role in decision- making at national level. The paper is based on the assumption that regional parties serve as catalyst to check the centralisation of power and encourage inclusive democracy. It tries to understand the transformation of Indian politics along with the communal nationalistic line and experience of voiceless opposition. It also makes efforts to examine the rise and decline of regional parties’ role and its consequences for Indian democracy and federalism.