CPP214 | Political Parties in India

India has a vibrant multi-party system, with 6 national parties, 57 state parties, and 2,764 unrecognised parties (according to the latest ECI data). The significance of political parties in modern democracies cannot be undermined since they are the major medium through which ‘politics’ is carried out. In contemporary times, political parties in India are undergoing a transformation because of the rise of populism, the ‘professionalisation’ of politics, the mushrooming of political consulting, the advent of social media, and the de-ideologisation of parties. This has led to widespread disillusionment with political parties, which has eroded their legitimacy and reputation and called into question political parties’ role in a democracy. Parties have often been accused of sacrificing the common good of the people for their narrow electoral interests. Although the literature on political parties in India is widely available, this landscape has mostly been the subject of research only by political scientists. Their primary focus has been on the national parties, especially the Indian National Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Left Parties. This course will expand the canvas and explore the political space beyond these parties, engaging with contemporary trends and developments that have recently transformed India’s party system while also providing foundational knowledge of the Indian party system. The course will expose students to a broad overview of political parties in India, not limited to a traditional understanding of parties through an interdisciplinary understanding of political parties – political, historical, legal and sociological. The course will introduce students to the major political parties in India and teach them to read and analyse political parties as complex organisations by exploring their multiple facets, including social base, ideological positioning, electoral and campaign strategies, changes in organisational setup, and manifesto promises. Students will gain a sound understanding of the vital role of political parties in the functioning of Indian democracy. They will be introduced to the literature on political parties, especially in relation to caste, religion, region and class, to discuss the key issues, debates and ideas surrounding their formation, institutionalisation, mobilisation strategies and decline.