Politics of India

Political Institutions & Parties

Republic of India
A federal republic with a parliamentary
system of government
capital: New Delhi
A federal system
26 states and 6 centrally administered
Union Territories
2 states are partially claimed by Pakistan and
China
Federal system
Relatively centralized
federal government controls the most
essential government functions
defense
foreign policy
taxation
public expenditures
economic (industrial) planning
Federal system
state governments formally control
agriculture
education
law and order within states
dependent on central government for funds
Federal system
Balance of power between central and
state governments
varies by time and place
state power was constrained
during the rule of Nehru and Indira Gandhi
state governments have more room to
maneuver
when central government is weak
since 1998
Federal system
considerable center-state conflict when
ruling political party in a state is different
from national ruling party
Parallel state structure
Formal political structure of the states
parallels that of the national government
national state
President Governor
Prime Minister Chief Minister
Parliament Assembly
Supreme Court High Court
The legislature
Parliamentary system of government
the executive authority is responsible to the
Parliament
The legislature
bicameral Parliament
Rajya Sabha (Council of States)
Lok Sabha (House of the People)
Rajya Sabha (Council of States)
The Upper House
Upper House
Rajya Sabha (Council of States)
not more than 250 members
12 are nominated by the President of India
the rest are indirectly elected
by state Legislative Assemblies
The Council of States can not be dissolved
members have terms of 6 years
1/3 members retire at end of every 2nd year
Lok Sabha
House of the
People
Lower House
Lok Sabha (House of the People)
545 members
2 are appointed by the President of India
the rest are directly elected from single-
member districts
5-year terms unless dissolved
Lok Sabha elects its presiding officer
the Speaker
Lok Sabha
Elections held at least every 5 years
Prime Minister may call elections earlier
543 single-member districts of roughly
equal population
party nomination
1st-past-the-post
winner-take-all
womens share
Elections to Lok Sabha
Vote share of 3 major political parties
Current composition
43 parties in the 13th Lok Sabha (1999)
39 parties in the 14th Lok Sabha (2004)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 184 138
Indian National Congress (INC) 109 145
Communist Party of India (M) 34 43
other political parties 218 217
total 545 543
Indian National Congress
Indias oldest political party
since 1885
Indias premier political party
until 1990s
in 1960s many regional parties started
challenging INCs monopoly on power
Indian National Congress
Indira Gandhi
created a top-down structure
party leaders appoint party officials
some limited party elections
left-of-center, pro-poor political platform
Indian National Congress
INC moved toward the ideological center
Beginning in 1984
INC today tilts right-of-center
economic efficiency
business interests
limited government spending
Indian National Congress
INC has always attracted support from
diverse social groups
in the 1990s INC has lost some of its
traditional constituencies among the poor
and Muslims
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
The major political party in India today
right-leaning, Hindu-nationalist party
first major party to mobilize explicitly on the
basis of religious identity
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
better organized than INC
disciplined party members
carefully selected party cadres
clear and respected authority line within the
party
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
Traditional supporters
urban, lower-middle-class groups
base of support widened since mid-1980s
Hindu nationalism
north-central India
decline of Indian National Congress
Muslims as convenient scapegoat for
frustration
BJPs rapid rise to power
electoral success from 1989 to 1999
difficulty in forming alliance with other parties
break with past traditions
relatively moderate, centrist position
BJP formed governing coalition in 1998
collapsed in 1999
BJP formed a new coalition in 1999
more broadly based than previous coalition
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
economic liberalization and stability
privilege the interests of the Hindu majority
Prime Minister
Leader of the majority party leader in Lok
Sabha becomes the prime minister
prime minister nominates a cabinet
members of Parliament in the ruling coalition
Council of Ministers
effective power is concentrated in the
office of the prime minister
where most of the important policies originate
Prime Ministers of India
38 years in the Nehru-Gandhi family
more and more rapid turnover
The President of India
Head of the State
Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces
elected by an electoral college
national Parliament
state legislature
5-year terms
can be reelected
The President of India
Ceremonial office
symbolize national unity
supposedly above partisan politics
mostly acts on the advice of the prime
minister
President plays a significant role when the
selection of a prime minister is complex
in 1998 President requested BJP to form govt.
The Judiciary
Fundamental contradiction in constitution
principle of parliamentary sovereignty
principle of judicial review
The Judiciary
judiciary tries to preserve the constitutions
basic structure
to ensure that legislation conforms with the
intent of the constitution
parliament tries to assert its right to amend
the constitution