Indian political system has always been crowded with the presence of a large number of regional players in its playground and they have marked their influence on almost all levels: local as well as national.
But the way it mobilizes and empowers the state-level politics in the country has been miraculous. On the other hand, regional parties have played different roles at different intervals in shaping the country’s democracy.
Some of these even existed before the partition and independence while a few may have steered division of states further in need.
In India, nearly four dozen state parties have been recognized, at times enjoying the ruling stature after challenging the National level parties while the other two dozen stand unrecognised by the Election Commission of India.
This happens because the national parties may seem to neglect the political as well as immediate economic interests of that respective region or state.
Certain examples include Shiromani Akali Dal, DMK, AIADMK, Shiv Sena, National Conference, Asom Gana Parishad, Mizo National Front etc., or the ones possessing an all-India outlook like Samajwadi Party, National Congress Party but they lack any National voter base or the ones born from split of bigger parties like Trinamool Congress.
Therefore, there can be numerous reasons for the formation of regional parties. Diverse cultural and ethnic ethos of Indian society being the profundal reason, other reasons for the formation of these fringe parties are existing disparities in regional development, alluring personality of the regional leaders, centralizing tendencies of National parties, role of caste and religion or simple discontent and isolation among the tribal groups.
For example, a significant feature of all regional parties is that they remain personality driven and so their longevity or continued existence depends entirely upon smooth transition of power to their successors, as seen in the case of Samajwadi Party that saw political loosening with internal fights.
The three times chief minister of Uttar Pradesh as well as former Defence Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav created this party in 1992 by, after alienating from the Janata Dal.
His political clamor grew significantly after the talks of Mandal Commission report in the nineties that led to the role of identity politics especially in north India.
Has regionalism in the realm of polity done any good to India?
As a potential threat and fair competition to the centrally-constricted polity of this country, regional political parties have dared to contribute a few better perspectives, at times though unintentionally:
Better governance and an alternative to one-party dominion, providing better options to voters and conditions to compare all indices of citizens’ welfare and interests of the state/region.
Explore all angles of federalism in a country with strong centre based on the bedrock of centre-state relations., allowing the dominant party of the country to respect aspirations of every corner. It voices the concerns of minority (ethnic, religious etc), at times when it becomes difficult to hear their say and the wishes of majority prevail as should be in a parliamentary democracy.
Trigger an extensive participation in the political process at the grass roots with better understanding and consciousness of political dynamics.
They provide a chance against the dictatorial tendencies of the central government. They oppose the ruling party at the centre on certain issues and force the dominant party to the more reasonable in its approach to the process of conflict resolution.
They have even attempted to form coalition governments at the centre lending support and inherent ideologies to even the most powerful parties and even uncovered the loopholes in its functioning including the false method for passage of laws, Governor biases in selection and rejection of popular choice Chief Minister etc.
While these regionally-powered political parties have evolved and assumed expansive roles in the governance functioning but just like others in their arena, they too have, at times exploited this public support, played with their sentiments and deepen conflicts. But do they deserve to diminish?
What more? The Regional Parties can and must play a bigger role in ascertaining regional development rather than merely side-lining their subjects on regional issues for their own benefits.
Is the recent trend indicative of regionalism losing its bite?
India has recently seen a lot changing in its political sphere: increased focus on national politics, strengthening of extreme (right and left) ideologies, sour relationships between the Union and state governments where rival party is in power, rejection in implementation of laws, inclusion of religion and arid nationalism in mobilizing votes while subsiding the needs of public, restricted devolution etc.
Bihar Election in 2020 also depicted the same, where RJD restricted itself to the shadows when it could not overthrow the earlier-weaker three-term incumbent and failed badly. This fragmentation can only benefit the national parties where they can sneak in existing vacancies.
The third front that the regional parties built earlier, has so forth been reduced to just with or against the incumbent government. The state-respective manifestos have lost their glory and mostly, it is the common terms and announcements those find place in almost all state elections, be it the UP State Assembly Elections 2022 or West Bengal Elections 2021.
What can be inferred here is a bit confusing. Should the regional aspirations complement or stand against the country’s reflective ideas? Can these fall prey to National goals under the populist pretext? Can our internal friction be a fodder for the country’s international standing?
One shall never underpower the value of diversity in synthesizing regional manifestos like the matter of Wages for Housewives raised in Tamil Nadu, 2021. Addressing the climate change effectively needs to be another.
Despite the earnings, the country’s major parties need to work on their agendas to conform reality and requirements of the country, revitalize the reach of regional parties to increase the local participation in democracy at grass-roots and thereby, uncover the greatest potential this country can display.
It is to remember that economic and military stability only comes when there is political satisfaction and better utilization of its machinery in any country.