FEATURES OF INDIAN PARTY SYSTEM

Some of the most important features of Indian party system are as follows:
1. A Multi-party System:
        As a land of social and cultural pluralism, India has been a natural home for a

multi-party system. Presently there are several major active parties working in
India at the national level and in various states. Some parties are national level
parties while others are regional or local political parties.
          Congress, BJP, BSP, CPI, CPM, NCP and BSP are the National level parties. LJP,

Janata Dal (U), Janata Dal (S), BJD, SP, AIADMK, DMK, Telugu Desham, SAD, RLD,
RJD, PDP, TDP, AGP, ML, and many others are regional or state level political parties.
We can legitimately say that there are almost 50 active political parties, national as
well as regional in the Indian Political System. In addition to these there are about
400 other registered political parties.

2. Rapidly Changing Party Structures:

           The party structure in India has been continuously and rapidly changing due

to splits, defections, and alliances. Almost every political party has been living
through splits. The Congress experienced four big splits in 1969, 1977, 1995 and
1999. In 1999 the Nationalist Congress Party emerged out of a split in the Congress.
In-fact, several political parties like Trinamool Congress, TMC and several others
have come out of the Congress as a result of splits.
          In 1964, the Communist Party suffered a split and CPI and CPM emerged on

the Indian political scene. In 1977, the party system underwent a big change when
Jan Sangh, Bhartiya, Lok Dal, Socialist Party, Congress (O) and Congress rebels
combined to form the Janata Party. In 1978, the Congress suffered another split
when Congress (U) was formed by rebel Congressmen who were led by Devraj Urs.
In 1979, however, the Janata Party suffered a split when Janata (S), i.e., Lok Dal
separated itself from this party.
          In April 1980, the former Jan Sangh members parted company and formed the

Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). In 1988, the Janata Party, the Lok Dal and the Jana
Morcha combined to form Janata Dal. In 1990, Janata Dal (S) was formed out of the
Janata Dal. During 1991- 2001; the Janata Dal suffered atleast four splits or mass
defections. The SAD, the DMK, the TDP, the LD and several other regional parties
have also suffered splits. These have been a source of big political changes in Indian
politics. Infact, India Party System has been a continuously changing party system.

3. Dominant Position of the Congress during 1947-89:

           The Indian multi-party system initially worked as one party dominant multi-

party system. Between 1947-67, the Congress dominanted fully the Indian political
scene at the national and state levels. It got 354, 371, 361 seats in 1952, 1957 and
1962 General Elections respectively. In 1967 it got 283 seats in the Lok Sabha. A
split then came into its way which forced it to depend upon the CPI and DMK for
support. Non-Congress governments came to power in several states.
           However, it proved to be a short-lived change. In 1971 elections, the Congress

again got 352 seats in the Lok Sabha. Between 1971-74, the Congress retrieved its
formidable position both at the Union and State levels. However, the emergency
rule imposed by it during June 1975 to March 1977, reduced its popularity and it
suffered a big defeat in March 1977 elections.
         A united opposition (the Janata Party) was successful in defeating it. However,

the internal factionalism in the Janata Party again set the stage for the re-
emergence of the Congress as the dominant party in 1980 elections. Thereafter
between 1980-1989, the Congress again remained the dominal party in Indian
Party system. Thereafter its popularity and position began declining.
         In 1989 elections it could get only 193 and in 1991 224 Lok Sabha seats. In

both these elections, it failed to secure a majority. In 1989, it decided to sit in the
opposition. But in 1991, it decided to form the government at the Centre. At the
state level also, though it improved its position as compared to its position in 1989,
yet it failed to regain full strength. Between 1991-97, the popularity of the congress
party kept on changing.
           After 1997, the Congress suffered a big a decline. Even today its position

continues to be weak. It continues to be a major national level political party but its
dominant position has come to end. It now depends upon the support other parties
for getting the power to rule.

4. Presence of a Recognised Opposition:

           Initially when Indian Party System was working as a one-party-dominant-

multi- party system, lack of an effective opposition was its big weakness. In the first
four general elections no party other than the Congress was in a position to secure
even 50 seats, the minimum constitutional requirement for getting the status of the
'opposition party'.
          In 1969, when there occurred a split in the Congress, the Congress (O) got the

status of an opposition party. But this development was short-lived as in the 1971
elections the Congress-I scored a resounding victory and no other party was in a
position to get more than 25 seats. In 1974 seven political parties, combined to
form the Bhartiya Lok Dal with Ch. Charan Singh as its head. With this very end in
view, the Congress (O), Jan Sangh, BLD and Socialist Party combined to form the
Janata Party in 1977.
         Later on, CFD also joined it. In 1977- elections the Janata Party scored a

majority, and the Congress with 155 seats became the opposition party. However, in
1980 elections, the Congress (I) secured a major victory and no other party could
secure 63 seats required for getting the status of a recognised opposition party.
           In 1989-elections, the Congress emerged as the largest party with 193 seats.

It decided not to stake its claim for making the government and hence got
recognition as the opposition party in the Lok Sabha. In 1991 elections, the
Congress scored 224 seats and again failed to score a majority, but it decided to
form the government.
          Next to it came BJP, which scored 119 seats and it got the status of the

opposition party in the Lok Sabha. In June 1996, the United Front came to power in
the Centre and the BJP again became the recognised opposition party. In 1998-and
1999 i.e., in 12th and 13th Lok Sabhas again the Congress got the status as the
recognised opposition. In the 14th Lok Sabha (Present Lok Sabha) the BJP is the
recognised opposition party.

5. Recognised Special States of the Leader of Opposition:

           In October 1999 Mrs. Sonia Gandhi got recognition and status (equal to a

minister) as the leader of opposition. In May 2004 Mr. L.K. Advani of the BJP
became the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha. Under the Salary and Allowances
of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act 1977, the leader of opposition in each
House of the Parliament enjoys a special status. His status is equal to that of a
cabinet minister and he draws the same salary and allowances as are drawn by a
cabinet minister.

6. System of Registration of Political Parties:

           Since December 1988 there has been in existence a provision for the

registration of political parties with the Election Commission. By amending the

Representation of the People Act 1951, it has been laid down that it is essential for
each political party to get itself registered with the Election Commission. A party
which fails to get registered is not accepted as a political party. Each new party has
to apply for registration within 30 days of its birth.

7. Large number of Regional Political Parties:

          The existence of a large number of regional or state level political parties along

with some national level political parties is a reality of Indian Political System. Such
a feature is quite natural for a country like India which is characterised by social
pluralism. A regional party is one which enjoys its popularity in one or two States.
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) DMK, AIADMK, National Conference, Shiromani Akali Dal,
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Assom Gana Parishad, PMK, TRS, LJP, RLD, RPI, RSP, MNF,
NLP, Telugu Desam, Vishal Haryana Party, Bangla Congress, Utkal Congress,
Forward Bloc, IUML, Kerala Congress, Manipur National Front, DMK, AlADMK etc.
are some of the more prominent regional parties. Several States of Indian Union are
being ruled by the regional parties either individually or in coalition.

8. Power-sharing between National and Regional Political Parties:

          A new development in the Indian political systems has been the emergence of

a process of power-sharing between National and Regional parties. Since June

1996, a coalition, consisting of several regional parties and some national level
parties has been ruling at the Centre. The CPM has been ruling West Bengal in a
similar fashion for more than 30 years. Congress is sharing power with NCP in
Maharashtra.
          PDP in J & K, BJD and BJP are in an alliance in Orissa. The leaders of regional

parties have started playing an active and even deterministic role in the
organisation of the Central Government. Since May 2004, Congress-led UPA, an
alliance of 14 parties has been in power at the centre.

9. Similar Ideological Perceptions:

            Almost all political parties have similar ideologies. In fact, the parties are not

very rigid about their ideological commitments. All the parties are committed to
uphold democracy, secularism, socialism and decentralisation, and most of them
now favour liberalisation and privatisation. All of these are willing to use the caste
factor, linguistic factor and regionalism for expanding their support bases.

10. Existence of some Communalist Parties:

             A communal party is one which draws its support from amongst the

members of a particular community. In this way several Indian political parties can
be called communal parties. Muslim League, Majlise Shura, Akali Dal, IML, AIMIM
are all in a way communal parties. Some persons particularly some left ideologists
hold that even BJP is also such party because it enjoys the support of mainly (95%)
of the Hindus. The BJP and its supporters, however strongly deny such a charge and
they describe it as a positive secularist party. Even DMK and AIADMK are anti-
Brahmin parties in Tamil Nadu.

11. Internal Groupism in each Political Party:

            Groupism has been present in most of the political parties. Internal groupism

in Congress has been a recognised feature. The existence of 'Leftists', 'Rightists',

'Dissidents', and 'Inner circles', within the Congress has been a historical fact. It is
also true of all other political parties. This feature has been mainly responsible for
political splits and defections. Groups owing loyalties to different leaders are
present in almost every party.

12. Personality-Cult Politics:
             Personality-cult dominates party politics in India. Several political parties

stand organised around a leader. The existence of such political parties like
Congress (Indira), Congress (Jagjiwan Ram), Congress (Urs), Janata Party (JP), AD
(Mann), AD (Badal), AD (Longowal), AD (Man), Jan Sangh (Madhok), Janata Dal (A),
Lok Dal (A) Biju Janata Dal and others reflect the presence of politics of personality-
cult in Indian political parties. It has been a practice with the political leaders of
India to float their separate political parties.

13. Not fully Democratic Organisations:

            Most of the parties in India do not have good democratically organised

structures. Theoretically, all the political parties stand organised in a democratic

way but in practice the 'top leaders' of a party always dominate the party
organisation. Party elections are rarely held. Political parties hold their state level
and national level conventions and conferences but in these also the 'leaders'
dominate the proceedings.
          The principle of 'One leader One office' is advocated but rarely followed. Even

the political parties which are active actors in the democratic process are
undemocratic in their internal workings. This is as much true of the Congress Party
as of the CPM, CPI or the BJP.
           The Election Commission has made it mandatory for the political parties to

hold organisational elections. At times, the Chief Election Commissioner directs the
political parties to complete their organisational elections by a stipulated date.

14. Lack of Party Discipline:

          Lack of discipline among the party members is again a sad reality of Indian

party system. The party members do not hesitate to become rebels whenever they
find a decision unacceptable. In elections 'the dissidents' or 'the rebels' even
oppose and contest elections against the officially sponsored party candidates. The
party discipline is, at times, enforced and it takes the form of suspension or removal
of the rebels or dissidents from membership for a period of six years or so.
               But, such rebels/dissidents are in a position either to return to the party or

in causing a split in the party or in joining another party which is even opposed to
their parent party. Lack of party discipline has been a source of defections, splits,
factionalism, groupism and political turncoatism in Indian politics.

15. Political Defections:
            The evil of defections in the form of floor crossings after winning elections on

particular party tickets, has been present in the Indian political system. It came to
be the standard practice of the dissidents' particularly after the fourth General
Elections (1967). Post-1967 years witnessed the emergence of the era of 'Aya Rams
and Gaya Rams' in Indian politics.
             Defection is an undemocratic practice as it involves a breach of trust on the

part of an elected representative who after getting elected on a particular party

ticket decides to change his party loyalty and join another party for securing a
berth in the ministry or for causing a fall of the ministry or for his selfish petty
political or financial gains.
              In January 1985, the evil practice of defection was sought to be buried

through the enactment of the 52nd Amendment Act. After its enactment, the evil
practice of defection suffered a decline. However, even this act provided for a
'qualified defection' in so far as it admitted that a mass defection, involving at least
one-third of the members of a party who decide to form a new party or join hands
with other parties in the political process, was to be called a split and not a
defection and hence was to be legal and valid.
             The presence of 'factions' and 'groups' within every party, the personality

cult politics, the presence of political corruption, and the existence of several
political parties, all have given rise to an environment in which politics of
'defections', continues to remain present. Even the latest amendment of the Act has
not been successful in eliminating the menace of political defections.

16. Large Number of Independent Candidates in Elections:

           Another feature, which has a bearing on the working of Indian Party System,

can be described as the presence of a large number of independent candidates in

the elections. The political parties have to meet the challenge posed by locally
popular independent candidates who are contesting elections from various
constituencies. The Constitution grants to the citizens the right to contest elections
and in actual practice a large number of independent candidates come forward to
utilise this right.

17. Politics of Populism:
            Almost all the political parties adopt and follow populistic policies and raise

populistic slogans for securing votes. The party in power uses its power of policy-
making for attracting votes. ‘Rozgar yojnas’, ‘Waving of Loans’, 'Power to the People',
'Increased Reservations', 'Vote for Mandir', 'Protection of Panth', 'Protection of
interests of Minorities', 'Garibi Hatao', 'Free water', 'Free-electricity' Flour and
Pulse at Rs. 4 and Rs. 20 per kg, etc. are used as election-eve slogans for securing
votes.

18. Resort to Direct Action Means and Electroal Malpractices:

           In India all the political parties have been using—strikes, dharnas, gheraos,

bandhs, boycotts, passive resistance i.e. direct action and pressure means for
securing party gains. During elections some of these even resort to malpractices
like booth capturing, rigging, forced voting, threats of liquidation, poll-violence,
vendetta against opponents and forcible prevention from voting. The practice of
forming 'militant senas' also reflects also the presence of violence in party politics
and electoral politics.

19. Politics of Opportunistic Alliances:

           Political parties often resort to unprincipled electoral alliances and coalitions

for securing short term gains. During elections, almost all the political parties enter
into unprincipled alliances. These do not hesitate to enter into electoral alliances
with communal parties.
          During October 1999—May 2004, the ruling alliance (BJP-led National

Democratic Alliance) was a collection of several mutually opposed organisations.

Trinamool Congress left the alliance to joint hands with the Congress in West
Bengal. However after few months it rejoined the NDA. The left parties have been
continuously oppositing the Congress, yet in May 2004, these extended support
from outside to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance. RJD of Sh. Laloo
Prasad and LJSP of Sh. Ram Vilas Paswan are totally opposed to each other in Bihar
and yet both are coalition partners in the ruling UPA. It is all politics of
opportunism.

20. Dawn of the era of Coalition Politics:

           The era of coalition politics has dawned in India. Since 1996 coalition

governments have been in power at the centre and in several states. Between
October 1999 May 2004, the Centre was ruled by the National Democratic Alliance
government. Since May 2004 UPA coalition has been ruling at the Centre. West-
Bengal has been under the rule of a left front for more than three decades.
          In Punjab SAD-BJP alliance has been in power since Feb. 2007. Congress-NCP

has been ruling Maharashtra. Congress-PDP alliance has been in power in J & K. In
Orissa BJD-BJP alliance has been ruling the state since 1999. The age of coalition
politics, which can be described as the natural outflow of a multi-party system, has
definitely arrived in the Indian political system.

21. System of Recognising Parties as National Political Parties, Regional Political

Parties and State Parties:
            On the basis of the performance of various political parties, the Election

Commission grants recognition to these as National Political Parties or State

Parties. On December 2, 2000, the Election Commission revised the criteria for
granting such recognition by amending the symbol order. This new criteria has
been : A political party gets recognised as a National Political Party, either when it
secures at least 6% of the valid votes polled in any four or more states in a general
election to the Lok Sabha.
            A political party gets a recognition as a State Party if it secures 6% of the valid

votes votes polled in a state (Either in a general election to the Lok Sabha or to the
legislative assembly of the concerned state) or if it wins at least 3% of the total
number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of the state or if it wins at least three
seats in the legislative assembly of the concerned state, whichever is more. Only the
recognised parties enjoy the facility of free broadcasts from the Doordarshan and
the AIR and get a free supply of copies of the electoral rolls. Only recognised
political parties use their symbol in elections.
           Indian Party System has been a fast changing and developing multi party

system. It has come out of the age of one-party-dominant-multi- party system and
is now developing as a real multi-party system. The existence of several political
parties both national and regional, has kept the Indian political party scenario
complex and even confusing. Even several of its features as described above can be
really described as its defects. Indian multi-party system has been a product of the
social, economic, cultural, linguistic, religious and regional pluralism which has
been a basic feature of Indian society.