The Multi Party System

One Party System Only one party exists typical ofdictatorships if there is a legislature (notfound in democracies)

easy elections, laws get passed quickly No choice for the people Soviet Union, Cuba, North Korea

Only one party exists typical ofdictatorships if there is a legislature (notfound in democracies)

easy elections, laws get passed quickly No choice for the people Soviet Union, Cuba, North Korea

Two Party System Two major political parties along withminor parties; major parties always win thenational elections

stability, basic choice minor parties typically loose USA, UK, South Africa, Canada

Two major political parties along withminor parties; major parties always win thenational elections

stability, basic choice minor parties typically loose USA, UK, South Africa, Canada

Multi Party System Many small minor parties and no major parties;in many countries coalitions must be formed inorder to have any political power

wide variety of class, religious, sectional, andpolitical interests

unstable; coalitions do not typically last very long Italy, Spain, Japan, Portugal, India

Many small minor parties and no major parties;in many countries coalitions must be formed inorder to have any political power

wide variety of class, religious, sectional, andpolitical interests

unstable; coalitions do not typically last very long Italy, Spain, Japan, Portugal, India

After Indira lost elections Moradji Bhai Desai became PM in 1977 opposition political parties such asthe Congress (O),Bharatiya JanaSangh, Bharatiya Lok Dal as well asdefectors from the Congress (R) joined toform the Janata party which won theelection

Moradji Bhai Desai became PM in 1977 opposition political parties such asthe Congress (O),Bharatiya JanaSangh, Bharatiya Lok Dal as well asdefectors from the Congress (R) joined toform the Janata party which won theelection

First multi-party PM Personal ambitions of leaders JP Narayan and Acharya Kriplani decidedMoradji Desai to be PM over CharanSingh and Jagjivan Ram

Personal ambitions of leaders JP Narayan and Acharya Kriplani decidedMoradji Desai to be PM over CharanSingh and Jagjivan Ram

Action against Indira Justice Shah Commission againstatrocities under Emergency

Indira afraid, wanted to leave politics Pupul Jain, friend of Indira, sent to makepeace with Moradji

Thrown from house in 1 Safdarjung road

Justice Shah Commission againstatrocities under Emergency

Indira afraid, wanted to leave politics Pupul Jain, friend of Indira, sent to makepeace with Moradji

Thrown from house in 1 Safdarjung road

Her struggle Went to Belchi, Bihar to act against attackon Dalits

3rd October CBI sent to arrest Indira byCharan Singh

Indira out of Jail with public support Indira broke from Congress, formedCongress I

Feb 1978, Congress I won by-elections

Went to Belchi, Bihar to act against attackon Dalits

3rd October CBI sent to arrest Indira byCharan Singh

Indira out of Jail with public support Indira broke from Congress, formedCongress I

Feb 1978, Congress I won by-elections

Barriers in first multi partygovernment of India

Charan Singh alleges corruption chargeson Moradjis son.

Moradji declined Charan Singhs requestof special court against Indira

Charan Singh and Raj Narain thrown outof Janata Party

Charan Singh alleges corruption chargeson Moradjis son.

Moradji declined Charan Singhs requestof special court against Indira

Charan Singh and Raj Narain thrown outof Janata Party

Congress Politics Sanjay Gandhi meets Raj Narain, asks toleave Janata party

Sanjay asked Kamal Nath to bribe CharanSinghs astrologer so that he leavesJanata Party

Sanjay fostered Jarnail SinghBhindranwale to counter Akali Dal inPunjab

Sanjay Gandhi meets Raj Narain, asks toleave Janata party

Sanjay asked Kamal Nath to bribe CharanSinghs astrologer so that he leavesJanata Party

Sanjay fostered Jarnail SinghBhindranwale to counter Akali Dal inPunjab

Tumultuous times Shah Commission report out, Indira sentto Tihar Jail for a week

Krishna Commission claimed Indira stole 4eggs and 2 chicken, ordered non-bailablewarrant

Shah Commission report out, Indira sentto Tihar Jail for a week

Krishna Commission claimed Indira stole 4eggs and 2 chicken, ordered non-bailablewarrant

Indira is back Sanjay gandhi promises PM post forCharan Singh if he pulls Janata govt.down

Janata govt. down Charan Singh becomes PM for 23 days asIndira pulls support

Indira announces elections.

Sanjay gandhi promises PM post forCharan Singh if he pulls Janata govt.down

Janata govt. down Charan Singh becomes PM for 23 days asIndira pulls support

Indira announces elections.

The development of the Indianparty system

Single party dominance (1947-1967). Congress Party dominated nationally and to a largeextent at state level.

Congress-opposition system (1967-1993). Congress remained the most prominent party atnational level but faced serious competition at thestate level.

Multi-party system (1993 onwards). Congress no longer the pivotal force. Growth ofregional parties and coalitional politics.

Single party dominance (1947-1967). Congress Party dominated nationally and to a largeextent at state level.

Congress-opposition system (1967-1993). Congress remained the most prominent party atnational level but faced serious competition at thestate level.

Multi-party system (1993 onwards). Congress no longer the pivotal force. Growth ofregional parties and coalitional politics.

Single party system (1947-67)

Congress dominates national elections In office continuously Regularly polls over 40% of the vote andsecures over 70% of the seats

No cohesive opposition Other parties function as pressure parties

Congress dominates national elections In office continuously Regularly polls over 40% of the vote andsecures over 70% of the seats

No cohesive opposition Other parties function as pressure parties

Congress-opposition phase (1967-1993)

Congress faced challenge at state level Two periods out of office at national level:

1977-1979 (to the Janata coalition) 1989-1991 (to the National Front coalition)

Opposition parties stronger, periods ofunity

Congress faced challenge at state level Two periods out of office at national level:

1977-1979 (to the Janata coalition) 1989-1991 (to the National Front coalition)

Opposition parties stronger, periods ofunity

Factors contributing to secondphase

Increasing economic discontent Increasing politicisation of marginal socialgroups

Challenges to traditional leadership inCongress

Increasing economic discontent Increasing politicisation of marginal socialgroups

Challenges to traditional leadership inCongress

Institutional decline of Congressthrough the 1970s and 80s

Decline of independent state politicians Increasing centralisation Party support constructed from the top-down,not bottom-up as before

Rise of dynasty and personality cult Personality more important than institution Succession of Indira Gandhi by her son RajivGandhi

Decline of independent state politicians Increasing centralisation Party support constructed from the top-down,not bottom-up as before

Rise of dynasty and personality cult Personality more important than institution Succession of Indira Gandhi by her son RajivGandhi

Dynasty and the Congress Party

Multi-party politics, 1993 onwards Congress no longer represents the focalpoint of electoral competition

Rise of regional parties Rise of new national parties, especially theBJP

No overall majority in parliament since1989- 2014

Emergence of Coalitions

Congress no longer represents the focalpoint of electoral competition

Rise of regional parties Rise of new national parties, especially theBJP

No overall majority in parliament since1989- 2014

Emergence of Coalitions

Results of 14th National GeneralElection, 2004: seats in Lok Sabha Congress-dominated United Progressive

Alliance 218 (Indian National Congress 145)

BJP-dominated National DemocraticAlliance 186

(Bharatiya Janata Party 138) Left Front 62

(Communist Party Marxist (CPM) 43) Others including

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) 19 Samajwadi Party (SP) 36

Congress-dominated United ProgressiveAlliance 218

(Indian National Congress 145) BJP-dominated National Democratic

Alliance 186 (Bharatiya Janata Party 138)

Left Front 62 (Communist Party Marxist (CPM) 43)

Others including Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) 19 Samajwadi Party (SP) 36

Chronology of key developments1964 Death of Nehru1966 Indira Gandhi becomes Congress leader1967 Fourth General and state assemblyelections. Congress loses control in 8 out of

16 states1969 Split in Congress1971 Fifth General Election. Congress landslidevictory1975 National Emergency declared1977 Sixth General Election. Congress defeatedby Janata

1964 Death of Nehru1966 Indira Gandhi becomes Congress leader1967 Fourth General and state assemblyelections. Congress loses control in 8 out of

16 states1969 Split in Congress1971 Fifth General Election. Congress landslidevictory1975 National Emergency declared1977 Sixth General Election. Congress defeatedby Janata

Chronology of key developments1978 Congress splits again1979 Fall of Janata government1980 Seventh General Election. Congress (I) (MrsGandhis wing) wins.1984 Mrs Gandhi assassinated. Rajiv Gandhi is newCongress leader.

Eighth General Election. Congress wins best everelectoral victory.1989 Ninth General Election. National Front governmentformed1991 Collapse of second National Front government.Tenth General Election.Rajiv assassinated half way through. New Congressleader Narasimha Rao.

1978 Congress splits again1979 Fall of Janata government1980 Seventh General Election. Congress (I) (MrsGandhis wing) wins.1984 Mrs Gandhi assassinated. Rajiv Gandhi is newCongress leader.

Eighth General Election. Congress wins best everelectoral victory.1989 Ninth General Election. National Front governmentformed1991 Collapse of second National Front government.Tenth General Election.Rajiv assassinated half way through. New Congressleader Narasimha Rao.

Thank You

The Multi Party SystemOne Party System Two Party SystemMulti Party SystemAfter Indira lost electionsFirst multi-party PMAction against Indira Her struggleBarriers in first multi party government of IndiaCongress PoliticsTumultuous timesIndira is backThe development of the Indian party systemSingle party system (1947-67)Congress-opposition phase (1967-1993)Factors contributing to second phaseInstitutional decline of Congress through the 1970s and 80sDynasty and the Congress PartyMulti-party politics, 1993 onwardsResults of 14th National General Election, 2004: seats in Lok SabhaChronology of key developmentsChronology of key developmentsThank You