Chapter 8 Recent Developments In Indian Politics

Context Of The 1990s

The late 1980s saw significant developments that had a long-lasting impact on Indian politics. Rajiv Gandhi became Prime Minister after Indira Gandhi's assassination, leading Congress to a major victory in 1984 elections (winning 415 seats). However, by the end of the decade, five key changes emerged.

First, the **defeat of the Congress party in the 1989 elections** was a crucial development. Reduced to 197 seats from 415 in 1984, this marked the **end of the 'Congress system'**, the era of Congress dominance. While Congress remained an important party and often ruled, it lost its central position in the party system. Congress did return to power after the 1991 mid-term elections but didn't regain its earlier unchallenged centrality.

Second was the rise of the **‘Mandal issue’**. In 1990, the new National Front government decided to implement the Mandal Commission's recommendation for **27% reservation of jobs in the central government for Other Backward Classes (OBCs)**. This led to violent 'anti-Mandal' protests and a national debate shaping politics after 1989.

Third, a radical shift occurred in **economic policy**. Starting as structural adjustment programs initiated by Rajiv Gandhi and becoming fully visible in 1991, the **new economic reforms (liberalisation, privatisation, globalisation)** fundamentally changed the direction of the Indian economy pursued since Independence. Despite widespread criticism from various groups, subsequent governments continued to follow these policies.

Fourth, the long-standing **Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute in Ayodhya** gained prominence, significantly influencing Indian politics. This became a central issue, transforming the discourse on secularism and democracy. This culminated in the construction of the Ram Temple after the Supreme Court's 2019 verdict.

Fifth, the **assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991** during an election campaign (by a Sri Lankan Tamil linked to LTTE) led to a change in Congress leadership. In the 1991 elections, Congress emerged as the single largest party, and P.V. Narasimha Rao was chosen as Prime Minister.

Era Of Coalitions

The 1989 elections resulted in Congress defeat but no single party gained a majority. Congress was the largest party but chose to sit in opposition. The **National Front**, an alliance of Janata Dal and regional parties, formed a coalition government with external support from two ideologically opposite groups: the BJP and the Left Front.

Decline Of Congress

The defeat marked the end of Congress's unchallenged dominance. While its position was challenged earlier (late 1960s), Indira Gandhi had re-established its leadership. The 1990s brought another challenge, but no single party emerged to replace Congress entirely.

Alliance Politics

Thus began an era of a **multi-party system**. While many parties always contested elections, after 1989, several parties became significant, preventing one or two from dominating vote/seat share. Consequently, no single party secured a clear Lok Sabha majority from 1989 until 2014. This necessitated **coalition governments** at the Centre, with regional parties playing a crucial role in forming ruling alliances.

This trend changed in 2014 and 2019 with the BJP winning clear majorities, though it still formed NDA coalition governments with partners. The era of coalition politics reflects a long-term trend of changes over decades. As seen in earlier chapters, the Congress itself was a 'coalition' of interests, weakening as sections left to form separate parties (especially after 1977). While these developments weakened Congress, they didn't enable any single party to replace its dominance.

The era of coalition governments from 1989 until 2014 (and the continued relevance of alliances even with BJP majority) reflects the transformation of the party system into a more competitive one, where government formation often requires the participation or support of multiple parties, particularly regional ones.

Political Rise Of Other Backward Classes

A significant long-term development was the rise of **Other Backward Classes (OBCs)** as a political force. OBCs are an administrative category facing educational and social backwardness. Support for Congress among some OBC sections declined, creating space for non-Congress parties drawing support from these communities. This first found national expression in the 1977 Janata Party government, whose constituents had OBC support. The Janata Dal of the 1980s had a similar combination of groups with strong OBC support.

‘Mandal’ Implemented

The **Mandal Commission** (Second Backward Classes Commission), appointed in 1978 during the Janata Party government to investigate backwardness and recommend remedies, gave its report in 1980. It defined 'backward classes' as 'backward castes' and found their low presence in education/jobs. It recommended **27% reservation** in government jobs and educational institutions for OBCs. (Source on The Mandal Commission details its formation, recommendations, and implementation).

The National Front government's 1990 decision to implement job reservations for OBCs sparked violent anti-Mandal protests. This intense debate raised awareness of OBC identity and aided political mobilisation. The policy was challenged in the Supreme Court (Indira Sawhney case); the Court upheld the government decision in 1992. OBC reservation policy now has broad support across major parties.

Political Fallouts

The 1980s also saw the rise of Dalit political organisation. **BAMCEF (Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation)**, formed in 1978, advocated political power for the 'bahujan' (SC, ST, OBC, minorities). This led to the formation of **Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)** under **Kanshi Ram**. BSP, initially supported by Dalits in some northern states, achieved a breakthrough in UP in 1989/1991 elections. This marked the first significant political success for a Dalit-supported party in independent India.

BSP, led by Kanshi Ram, pursued pragmatic politics based on the numerical strength of the Bahujan majority. BSP became a major player in UP, forming governments, expanding its support beyond Dalits to other groups, though Dalit and OBC politics sometimes developed independently or in competition. (Quote on benefits of rising OBC/Dalit politics).