Explain the evolution of party system in india after independence
Answers
The contemporary party system in India developed originally in the context of the struggle for freedom and since 1950 within the framework of parliamentary government.
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The centre of political activity during the national movement was the Indian National Congress which was founded in 1885. In course of time, the Congress attracted cross-sections of Indian Community, and it became a mass organisation.
In this background, three factors appear as vital in determining the pattern of the Indian party system. These according to Prof. Rashiduddin Khan are:
(i) A major heritage of the national movement was the building of national consensus on certain essential issues of the three significant dimensions of national interest, namely, national unity and political integration, national socio-economical development and national defence and security.
(ii) The other heritage of the national movement was its broad ideological base, coalescing the many strands from the radical left to the conservative, traditionist right. The co-existence of the left, centre and the right in the national movement during the freedom struggle not only gave it a wider support base and provided it with all-India legitimacy but also laid down a tradition of toleration and accommodation of different points of view.
(iii) The continental size of the country, comprising well defined and distinct socio-cultural regions, with their own languages and dialects, specific patterns of caste, community and tribal formations, provided the objective conditions for the rise of regional parties and groups.
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Answer:
The evolution of Indian party system can be traced to the formation of the Congress, as a political platform in 1885.
After independence in 1947, the Indian National Congress transferred itself into
a political party in the sense of contesting elections and forming government.It remained a dominant political party up to 1967, as it continued to win elections
held in 1952, 1957, 1962 and 1967 at the Centre as well as in almost all the States. This period is known as ‘one party dominant system’ in view of the Congress winning majorities whereas the large number of other political parties contesting elections winning only few seats.
Since 1967 the party system in India has been in constant flux. In 1971 although
the Congress won a majority in the Lok Sabha, in many states various other
political parties formed governments mostly in coaltions. After 1977, it appeared that India had moved towards a ‘two party system’ – the two parties being the Indian National Congress and the Janata Party. But it was only for a very short period. The Janata Party which was in fact a coalition of various factions like the Congress O, the Jana Sangh, the Socialists, the Bharatiya Lok Dal, and the Congress for Democracy split into different factions. The Janata split once again gave advantage to the Congress which returned to power at the Centre in 1980 and remained there until 1989. However, the Congress has not been able to
regain its dominant position ever since 1989. Indian party system witnesses a coalition system of government from 1989 onwards. Since 1999 two broad coalitions have come up – one, known as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the second, known as the United
Progressive Alliance (UPA), led by the Congress Party. At present in India in
fact there is a multi-party system as very large number of parties participate in
political process.