Indian Politics
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Transcript of Indian Politics
Indian Politics
1. Nehru Dynasty 1947-19962. Years of Competition 1996-present– Two Party System?– Two Half Parties?– Regional parties?
1. Nehru Dynasty
Jawaharlal Nehru Indira Gandhi Rajiv Gandhi1947-1964 1966-1977 1984-1989
1980-1984
Congress Party
Manmohan Singh Sonja Gandhi Rahul GandhiPM President General Secretary
of the Party (one of nine)
Congress’ Ideology
• Secularism• Socialist economics 1947-1991• Economic Reform 1991-present• Manifesto for 2009 elections
Congress DominatesElection Year Seats for Congress Seats for Second Largest
Party1952 364 16
1957 371 27
1962 361 29
1967 283 44
1971 352 44
1977 (lost power) 154 298 (Janata Party alliance)
1980 353 35
1984 415 30
1989 (lost power) 197 143
1991 (formed coalition) 226 120
Indira Gandhi
Congress (I)
Congress after Indira Gandhi
1984-1989 1991-1996Rajiv Gandhi P. V. N. Rao
2. Years of CompetitionFactors• End of Nehru Dynasty• Economic reform• Corruption in Congress• Rise of regional, religious, caste-
based parties
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
• Hindutva (Hindu Nationalism)
• RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh)
1984 2
1989 88
1991 120
1996 160
1998 176
1999 182
Others• Leftist parties– Communist Party of India (Marxist)
• Regional parties– AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra
Kazhigam) regional party of Tamil Nadu state – Janata Dal (Secular) (Karnataka, Kerala)– Telugu Desam Party (Andrha Pradesh)– Samajwadi Party (Uttar Pradesh)
• Caste-based Parties– Bahujan Samaj Party
Why Did Congress Party Lose its Appeal?
• Nehru Dynasty over• Corruption
•1991 Economic Reforms
1947-1991Socialist Economic Policy
• Nationalization• National Planning Commission –
1950–Five Year Plans
• “Hindu Rate of Growth” -- 3.2%
1990s Economic Crisis
Political-Military Crisis 1989-90
The Reforms• Open up economy to foreign investment• Privatization• Ending government control of economy• Reduce government regulation• Export Processing Zones• Architect of reforms– Finance Minister Manmohan Singh
Economic Results (from BBC News: China and India, Key Facts;
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/guides/456900/456964/html/nn3page1.stma)
Political Results
• 1996 Election
Party 1991 Seats 1996 Seats
Congress 225 136
BJP 119 160
BJP Constituency
• Elites who benefit from government policy• Government employees• Business protected by the government• Poor who live off government assistance• Anti-affirmative action groups• Hindu nationalists
1996 Election
• Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 160 • Congress Party 136• National Front 110
• National Front forms government
1998
BJP forms governmentNational Democratic Alliance (15 parties)
PM A. B. Vajpayee 1998-2004
Indian nuclear testsMay 1998
1998 Election
• BJP 176 • Congress Party 140• United Front 97
21st Century: Congress Regroups
Sonia Gandhi
1999 Election
• BJP 182 • Congress Party 112
• BJP/NDA remains in power
2004 Election
BJP/NDA“India Shining”
vs. Congress/United Progressive
Alliance (UPA)“It is a contest between the Congress…and the BJP that is
systematically undermining the very essence of Indian civilization and destroying the very idea of India.”
2004 Election Manifesto
2004 Election• BJP 138• Congress Party 145 (UPA 219)• Left Parties 56
UPA and Leftist parties form coalition
PM Manmohan Singh
2009 Election• BJP 116• Congress Party 206
UPA retains power
PM Manmohan Singh
Challenges and Developments
1. Two parties or Two Half Parties2. Regional parties3. Can Congress get beyond the
Dynasty?
1. Two parties or Two Half Parties?
272 (273) the magic number!Stability?
Party Congress BJP1991 226 1191996 136 1601998 140 1761999 112 1822004 145 1382009 206 116
2. Regional Parties
• 2009 Lok Sabha
• 2 National parties• 1 semi-national party (CPI-M) with seats in
four states• 39 Regional parties
3. Congress and the Nehru Dynasty
Liberhan Commission ReportNarendra ModiChief Minister of Gujarat