NCERT Solutions for Chapter 8 Recent Developments in Indian Politics Class 12 Political Science

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There were other five main developments and events that occurred in Indian politics after 1989:

First the most crucial development of this period was the defeat of the Congress party in the elections held in 1989.

Second development was the rise of the ‘Mandal issue’ in national politics. This followed the decision by the new National Front government in 1990, to implement the recommendation of the Mandal Commission that jobs in central government should be reserved for the Other Backward Classes. This led to violent ‘antiMandal’ protests in different parts of the country.

Third, the initiation of the structural adjustment programme or the new economic reforms. Started by Rajiv Gandhi, these changes first became very visible in 1991. These policies have been widely criticised by various movements and organisations.

Fourth, a number of events culminated in the demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya (known as Babri Masjid) in December 1992. These developments are associated with the rise of the BJP and the politics of ‘Hindutva’.

The assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991 led to a change in leadership of the Congress party. He was assassinated by a Sri Lankan Tamil linked to the LTTE. In the elections of 1991, Congress emerged as the single largest party. Following Rajiv Gandhi’s death, the party chose Narsimha Rao as the Prime Minister.

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It is true that political parties are not aligning or realigning on the basis of ideology in the new era of coalition politics. Now, pragmatic factors take precedence over ideological views, and political coalitions are formed without ideological consensus. The focus of political parties has, therefore, shifted from ideological differences to power-sharing arrangements.

In April-May 2004, election for 14th Lok Sabha was held. The United Progressive Alliance led coalition government was formed under the Prime Minister ship of Dr. Manmohan Singh United Progressive Alliance is supported by the left parties from outside. Ideology of Congress and left parties i.e., CPI and CPI (M) are different and that is why many times left parties have threatened the UPA government to withdraw the support.

A lack of moral unity has given birth to opportunism and expediency politics. Almost all political parties are always willing to form an unholy coalition with other parties in order to accomplish their self-centered goals.

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In the elections of 1989, the National front under V.P. Singh came to power supported by left front and BJP from outside because they wanted to keep the Congress out of power. The Mandal Commission Report and its implementation pushed the BJP to rethink its support and eventually withdraw it. Thus, the National Front’s rule came to an end in November 1990.

In the 10th Lok Sabha elections in 1991 B.J.P. secured 119 seats and formed the government in U.P. In 1991, the B.J.P. leader L.K. Advani was recognised as leader o the opposition in the Lok Sabha.

In 1996 BJP minority government was formed for a short period. In June 1996 BJP failed to get majority support in the vote of confidence and thus collapsed.

From March 1998 to October 1999, BJP and others formed alliances NDA (National Democratic Alliance) under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The regional Parties demanded more share in the government to extend their support.

In 14th Lok Sabha elections held in 2004, B.J.P. secured only 138 seats and lost the power in centre. In 15th Lok Sabha election held in 2009, B.J.P. secured only 116 seats.

In the 16th Lok Sabha election held in 2014, BJP won 282 seats, clear majority and formed the government under the leadership of Sh. Narender Modi.

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After independence, the Congress Party ruled from 1947 to 1967, 1971 to 1977, and 1980 to 1989. Although there is a decline of congress dominance but it still congress has great influence in Indian politics. The Congress organisation retains India’s most powerful political organisation.

In the 10th Lok Sabha elections in may-June in 1991, congress secured 225 seats. In april-may1996, 11th Lok Sabha was held and the party only secured 141 seats. In February-march, 1998 congress secured 142 seats in the 12th Lok Sabha elections. In the 13th Lok Sabha elections held in September-October 1991, congress party secured 114 seats. It was their worst performance in this history of Indian elections. In the 14th Lok Sabha elections held in April-may 2004, party won 145 seats and formed the seats with alliance under Dr. Manmohan Singh. The continuity of UPA till now proved the success of congress party. In the 15th Lok Sabha held in April-may 2009, the congress party won 206 seats and again formed the government.

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Party system is essential for democratic system of government. Many people think that two-party system is required for successful democracy. For example in England and the U.S.A, democracy is successful due to the two-party system. In this system, government is stable and responsible.

During the first decade of electoral politics in India, there was no recognized opposition part. However, some of the most lively and varied opposition parties had emerged even before the first General Election in 1952 as non-Congress parties. As a result, almost all non-Congress parties today can be tracked back to one of the opposition parties of the 1950s.

After 1967 gradually coalition politics developed. After 1989, coalition government is the main feature of Indian party system. In 2014, the election commission recognised 6 national parties and 54 states or regional parties. Present party system in India has following advantages:
• In India there exist various political parties which represent different section of people or different shades of opinion.
• In India due to multiple party system voters enjoys a greater degree of independence and choice because so many political parties contest the elections.
• In India there are several distinct cultural and ethnic religious and linguistic caste groups. Two party systems cannot satisfy the different cultural groups.
• Present party system satisfies regional feelings and aspirations of the people in fact, regional parties contribute in the strength to the federalism while underscoring the need of fulfilling the regional aspirations.

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(a) The Party system in India has confronted numerous challenges. Not only has the congress system destroyed itself but the fragmentation of the congress coalition has triggered a new emphasis on self- representation, which raises question about the party system and its capacity to accommodate diverse interests. The party structure must develop in order to successfully reflect and consolidate diverse interests. This could be accomplished by the formation of more responsive and representational political parties capable of accommodating regional and other varied interests while staying national in scope.

(b) An important test facing the policy is to evolve a party system of political parties that can effectively articulate and aggregate a variety of interest. To unsolved a party system to accommodate diverse interest but the political parties formed under the leadership of Kanshi Ram for dalits only.

(c) It is necessary for parties to accommodate and aggregate variety of interest to maintain the culture of India ‘Unity in Diversity’ so that there should be no space for separatist movements in India.