Polity & Party system in INDIA

Political parties and the party system in India have been greatly influenced by the cultural diversity, social, ethnic, caste, community and religious pluralism, traditions of nationalist movement, contrasting style of party leadership, and clashing ideological perspective. Political parties do not as such find mention in the Constitution of India. But this change in party system in India is also an echo of helpless condition of helpless condition of a modern liberal democratic order.

Party system is unique in India. Since Independence, the system has passed through the various stage of growth. 

• 1952-64, the epoch of National consensus- the Nehru era,
• 1964-69, the uneasy transition marked by the emergence of multi-party system
• 1969-75, the period of new consensus and of increasing inter-party conflict
• 1975-77, the Emergency authoritarian period
• 1977-80, the Janta phase of coalition politics
• 1980-89, the new phase of tussle between the Congress in centre and regional parties in the state
• since 1989, the situation showed a clear trend of decline of Congress hegemony and emergence of the multi-party system and coalitions phase

By the time the sun set on 20th century, the party system is passing through a phase of transition which looks to be full of contradiction and paradoxes, which is characterised by following features:

• the multiparty-party system in which many parties have coherent ideologies leads to confusion among the voters
• lack of strong opposition, which helps in highlighting the shortcomings of governments and compel it to become responsive to public opinion. But in 16th Lok Sabha, there is no official opposition
• personality cult leads to centralisation of party power within few people, which reflects the absence of internal party democracy 
• lack of ideological commitments of parties shows there pragmatistic and opportunistic behaviour to gain political power
• the emergence of regional parties like DMK, AIDMK, Akali Dal, National Conference, Shiv Shena etc. promotes the feeling of regional jingoism and separatism among the masses which tends to break the unity and Integrity of India
• party influenced from perverse ideology like casteism, regionalism and communalism seems to be a great threat for Indian diversity
• increase in the use of extra-constitutional means like civil disobedience, mass demonstration, strikes and protest rallies to embarrass the party in power which divest the peace and smooth functioning of country
• defection technique used by politicians for petty political gains leads to instability and chaos in the polity of a country
• poor representation of women in the high post in a party stills reflects deep rooted patriarchal mindsets of society
• ruthless party whip questions the sovereignty of conscience of the party member as an individual
• coalitions lead to vulnerability in the process of governance because of ideological compromises and instability

It is essential to recognize the complexity of this problem before we can find or design solutions. The answers lie, inter alia, electoral reforms in public funding of election, audit of electoral expenses, fast track courts against elected MP's with corruption or criminal charges, formation of Political Representative Incentives Commission to make politicians efficient, periodical performance reporting against election manifestos by Election Commission, stringent anti-defection law combined with infrastructural reforms that mandate training and orientation of the new member, and foster intra-party democracy that has been stifled not only by dynasties but also by oligarchies.