Question

Mention four features of Indian party system.

Hint:

To describe the Indian party system accurately, it is often called a 'multi-party system with a trend towards bipolarity at the national level', where two major alliances (like NDA and INDIA) compete for power.

Answer 1

Step 1: Key Concept:
A party system is the system of political parties in a democratic country. The Indian party system has evolved significantly since independence and has several distinct characteristics.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Four prominent features of the Indian party system are:
1. Multi-Party System: India has a large number of political parties operating at the national, state, and local levels. The Election Commission of India recognizes several national parties, state parties, and a vast number of registered but unrecognized parties, making it a classic example of a multi-party system.
2. One-Party Dominance to Multi-Party Competition: For the first few decades after independence, the Indian party system was characterized by the dominance of a single party, the Indian National Congress. However, since the late 1980s, the system has transformed into a highly competitive multi-party system, leading to an era of coalition governments.
3. Emergence of Regional Parties: A significant feature is the growing influence and importance of regional or state-based parties. These parties often play a crucial role in forming coalition governments at the national level and articulate regional interests and aspirations.
4. Lack of Clear Ideological Division: While parties do have ideologies, they often exhibit flexibility and pragmatism. Many parties are catch-all parties trying to appeal to a broad spectrum of voters. Ideological lines often blur, and alliances are frequently based on political convenience rather than strict ideological alignment.