The Indian party system is passing through a phase of transition which looks to be full of contradictions and paradoxes." Discuss.

The Traditional Party System (1947-1989)

The initial decades after independence were dominated by the Indian National Congress, which enjoyed widespread support across the country. This ‘one-party dominance’ system was characterized by a broad ideological umbrella, charismatic leadership, and a strong organizational structure. The opposition parties, though present, were fragmented and lacked a pan-Indian appeal. The socialist and communist parties had pockets of influence, but failed to challenge the Congress’s supremacy effectively. This period saw a relatively stable political landscape, but also concerns about the lack of competitive politics.

The Phase of Transition (1989-2014)

The 1989 general election marked a turning point, with the Congress losing its majority for the first time. This ushered in an era of coalition governments and the rise of regional parties. Several factors contributed to this shift:

• Decline of the Congress’s Ideological Appeal: The Congress’s secular and socialist ideology lost its resonance with changing social and economic realities.
• Rise of Identity Politics: The emergence of parties based on caste, religion, and regional identities (e.g., Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, DMK, AIADMK) fragmented the electorate and challenged the Congress’s traditional support base.
• Mandal-Mandir Politics: The implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations (1990) and the Ram Janmabhoomi movement (1990s) polarized the political landscape and further strengthened identity-based politics.

This period witnessed frequent changes in government and political instability, but also increased political participation and representation of marginalized groups.

The Current Phase: Paradoxes and Contradictions (2014-Present)

Since 2014, India has witnessed a period of relative political stability with the dominance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, this dominance coexists with several contradictions:

• Centralization vs. Federalism: While the BJP promotes a strong national identity, it also relies on alliances with regional parties to maintain power, creating tensions between centralization and federalism.
• Economic Liberalization & Social Conservatism: The BJP’s economic policies promote liberalization and globalization, but its social agenda often reflects conservative values.
• Rise of Populism & Decline of Institutional Autonomy: The BJP’s populist appeal has been successful in mobilizing support, but it has also been accompanied by concerns about the erosion of institutional autonomy and democratic norms.
• Money and Muscle Power: Despite electoral reforms, the influence of money and muscle power in elections remains a significant challenge, undermining the principles of free and fair elections. According to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, candidates with criminal backgrounds constituted 54% of the total.

The Role of Electoral Reforms

Several electoral reforms have been implemented over the years to address issues such as criminalization of politics and campaign finance. However, their effectiveness has been limited. The Indira Gandhi Committee on Electoral Reforms (1975) and the Goswami Committee (1990) made several recommendations, but many remain unimplemented. The increasing use of social media in elections also poses new challenges to electoral integrity.

Committee	Year	Key Recommendations
Indira Gandhi Committee	1975	State funding of elections, ceiling on election expenditure
Goswami Committee	1990	Disqualification of persons accused of serious crimes, disclosure of assets by candidates