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Recent Developments in Indian Politics

Recent Developments In Indian Politics

Recent Developments in Indian Politics** refers to the significant shifts and transformations that have occurred in the political landscape of India, broadly from the 1990s onwards. These developments have reshaped party politics, governance, and societal dynamics.

Key trends include the decline of single-party dominance, the rise of coalition politics, the increasing influence of caste and communal identities, and major debates around secularism and development.


Context Of The 1990s

The 1990s were a transformative decade for Indian politics, marked by several watershed moments:

  • Economic Liberalization (1991): India embarked on a path of economic liberalization, moving away from a protectionist, state-controlled economy towards a more market-oriented system. This had profound political implications, influencing party ideologies and electoral debates.
  • Decline of Congress Hegemony: The Congress party, which had dominated for decades, began to experience a decline in its electoral fortunes, losing its absolute majority and facing stronger regional and national opposition.
  • Rise of Coalition Politics: The fragmentation of the political landscape led to the rise of coalition governments, where multiple parties came together to form a ruling majority.
  • Mandal Commission Implementation: The implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations for job reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in 1990 sparked significant social and political debate.
  • Ayodhya Dispute and Hindutva: The Ram Janmabhoomi movement gained momentum, leading to the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in 1992, which had profound implications for communal relations and the secular fabric of the country.

These developments fundamentally altered the trajectory of Indian politics.


Era Of Coalitions

The 1990s ushered in the Era of Coalitions** in Indian politics, marking a departure from the single-party dominance that characterized the earlier decades.

Decline Of Congress

The Congress party's dominance began to wane significantly in the 1990s:

  • 1989 Elections: The Congress lost power, and a National Front government, supported by other parties, came to power.
  • Continued Setbacks: Following the 1989 election, the Congress experienced further electoral setbacks in 1991, 1996, and 1998, failing to secure a majority on its own.
  • Loss of Popularity: Factors contributing to this decline included perceived corruption, policy failures, and the rise of strong regional and alternative national political forces.

Alliance Politics

With no single party able to command a majority, alliance politics** became the norm:

  • National Front: In 1989, non-Congress parties formed the National Front.
  • United Front: In 1996, a United Front government of regional parties and the Left was formed.
  • National Democratic Alliance (NDA): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led the formation of the NDA, which came to power in 1998.
  • United Progressive Alliance (UPA): Subsequently, the Congress-led UPA was formed in 2004 and returned to power in 2009.
  • Coalition Dynamics: These coalitions involved complex negotiations, power-sharing arrangements, and often entailed compromises on policy agendas to maintain stability.

Coalition politics brought regional parties to the centre stage and necessitated greater negotiation and consensus-building in governance.


Politics Of Backward Classes

The 1990s witnessed a significant shift in Indian politics with the increased assertion and political mobilization of backward classes, particularly through the implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations.

‘Mandal’ Implemented

The Mandal Commission**, established in the 1970s to examine the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes, recommended significant reservations for OBCs in government jobs. In 1990, the V.P. Singh government decided to implement these recommendations:

  • Reservation Policy: The government decided to reserve 27% of jobs in central government employment for OBCs.
  • Social and Political Impact: This decision led to widespread protests and debates across the country, highlighting deep divisions and social tensions related to caste and affirmative action.

Political Fallouts

The Mandal issue had major political consequences:

  • Strengthening OBC Politics: It significantly boosted the political mobilization of OBC communities and led to the rise of OBC leaders and parties.
  • Polarization: It polarized political discourse, with strong support from backward communities and significant opposition from forward castes.
  • Electoral Realignment: This issue influenced electoral outcomes and led to realignments in party strategies, with parties increasingly focusing on caste-based vote banks.
  • Legal Challenges: The policy faced legal challenges, leading to Supreme Court interventions, including the "creamy layer" concept, which excluded the affluent sections of OBCs from the reservation benefits.

The Mandal impact reshaped the contours of Indian politics, making caste a more overt factor in electoral calculations and policy debates.


Communalism, Secularism, Democracy

The 1990s also saw intense debates and conflicts surrounding communalism, secularism, and democracy, largely triggered by events related to the Ayodhya dispute and the rise of Hindutva politics.

Hindutva

Hindutva**, a political ideology promoted by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its affiliates, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), seeks to define Indian national identity in terms of Hindu culture and values.

  • Core Idea: It posits that India is intrinsically a Hindu nation, and that its cultural and political identity should be rooted in Hindu traditions.
  • Political Mobilization: The BJP used Hindutva as a core plank for political mobilization, appealing to Hindu sentiments and concerns.
  • Debate on Secularism: This ideology led to significant debates about the meaning and practice of secularism in India, with critics arguing that it undermined the secular character of the Indian state and marginalized minority communities.

Ayodhya Dispute

The dispute over the site of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, became a focal point of communal politics in the late 20th century:

  • Claim: Hindu groups claimed that the Babri Masjid was built on the birthplace of Lord Rama (Ram Janmabhoomi) and that a temple should be constructed there.
  • Legal and Political Battle: The dispute involved centuries of historical, religious, and legal claims, which became highly politicized.

Demolition And After

On December 6, 1992, a large crowd of Hindu activists demolished the Babri Masjid:

  • Communal Riots: The demolition triggered widespread communal riots across India, resulting in the deaths of thousands, mostly Muslims, in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Ahmedabad.
  • Political Ramifications: The demolition had profound political consequences, weakening secular forces, strengthening the BJP in some areas, and deepening communal divisions.
  • Supreme Court Intervention: The Supreme Court later ruled on the ownership of the land, paving the way for the construction of a temple.

Gujarat Riots (2002)

Following the demolition of the Babri Masjid, communal tensions remained high. In 2002, Gujarat witnessed large-scale communal riots, triggered by the Godhra train burning incident in which Hindu pilgrims were killed.

  • Widespread Violence: The riots resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 people, predominantly Muslims, and widespread destruction of property.
  • Controversy: The riots and the response of the state government became highly controversial, with allegations of state complicity or inaction in protecting minority lives.

These events severely tested India's secular fabric and democratic values, highlighting the deep-seated challenges of communal harmony.


Emergence Of A New Consensus

In response to the turbulent political landscape of the 1990s and early 2000s, certain trends began to emerge, suggesting the possibility of a new political consensus.

Growing Consensus

Despite the deep divisions caused by Mandal and Ayodhya, several points of emerging consensus could be observed:

  • Acceptance of Economic Reforms: By the late 1990s, most major political parties, including the Congress and the BJP, had come to accept the broad framework of economic liberalization initiated in 1991, indicating a convergence on economic policy.
  • Coalition Governments: The necessity of forming coalition governments became a recognized political reality, requiring parties to engage in negotiation and compromise.
  • Recognition of Regional Parties: The importance of regional parties in coalition-building and governance was acknowledged, leading to greater respect for regional aspirations.
  • Challenges to Caste Politics: While caste remained influential, there were also efforts by some parties to broaden their appeal beyond caste lines and focus on issues of governance and development.
  • Importance of Welfare: A consensus also emerged around the need for the state to play a role in providing social welfare and basic amenities, though the specific approaches differed.

These emerging trends suggested a maturing of India's democratic polity, where diverse interests had to be negotiated within a democratic framework.