India, known as the world’s most democratic country, operates within a multiparty system in its political framework. Lord Bryce’s statement holds true that the party system serves as the political center of gravity in a democratic system. In a democratic setup, the party system becomes not only unavoidable but also indispensable. Modern democracy is characterized by indirect or representative governance, where the majority of the population participates through elected representatives. Universal suffrage forms the foundation of representative democracy, with political parties playing a crucial role in electoral affairs.
1) Indian National Congress (INC)
The Indian National Congress, established in 1885 by Allan Octavian Hume, a retired civil servant in the British Government, represents the interests of India’s urban middle class. Congress is one of the major political parties in the country, known for its “big tent” approach and positioning itself in the center to center-left of Indian politics. From its inception, the Indian National Congress played a leading role in the movement for independence from British rule. Since gaining independence, Congress has formed the majority of India’s governments and holds significant representation in state governments.
2) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is one of India’s two major political parties, alongside the Indian National Congress. Since 2014, the BJP has emerged as the leading political party in India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With a history of Hindu nationalist policies, the BJP is known as a Hindu nationalist right-wing political party. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is closely associated with the BJP, both philosophically and structurally. The BJP’s precursor, the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, was formed in 1951 by Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. During the State of Emergency in 1977, the Jana Sangh joined forces with various other organizations to establish the Janata Party.
3) Trinamool Congress (TMC)
The All-India Trinamool Congress, commonly known as the Trinamool Congress, is a political party that operates primarily in West Bengal. Led by Mamata Banerjee, the current Chief Minister of West Bengal, the TMC has held power in the state for the past 11 years. With 22 seats in the Lok Sabha, the TMC ranks as the fifth-largest party in terms of representation in the lower house of Parliament. In terms of MLAs, the TMC is the fourth-largest party. The Election Commission officially recognized the TMC as a political party in 2016. Mamata Banerjee established the Trinamool Congress in 1998 after being a member of the Indian National Congress for over 26 years.
4) The Communist Parties
Influenced by Marxism, a number of socialist/labour organizations emerged in India, particularly after the successful Socialist Revolution in Russia in 1917. These organizations came together in 1924 for a joint conference held in Kanpur, resulting in the formation of the Communist Party of India (CPI). The CPI advocated that India’s complete independence could only be achieved by adopting and implementing Marxism, as interpreted and utilized by Lenin.
5) Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)
The DMK and the AIADMK are two prominent regional parties that have played significant roles in Tamil Nadu politics. The emergence of local parties in Tamil Nadu began with the establishment of the Justice Party in 1916. This party was formed as an anti-Brahmin party, aiming to address the dominance of Brahmins in the social and political life of the region.The Justice Party and the Self-Respect Movement joined forces, gaining strength through their anti-Hindu agitation. At the Salem conference in 1944, C.N. Annadurai proposed a new policy that aligned with nationalist sentiments. As a result, the Justice Party was renamed the Dravida Kazhagam, meaning Dravida Association (DK).
6) Bahujan Samaj Party
The caste system permeates every aspect of Indian society, influencing people’s beliefs and societal norms. As a result of this system, people are treated differently, leading to the marginalization and labeling of certain segments of the population as untouchables. Indian society is divided into upper caste, lower caste, and even outcaste categories. In the face of injustice, there are always individuals or organizations that speak out and strive for redress. Based on these principles, the Bahujan Samaj Party was founded on April 14, 1984, when two interest groups, the Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation (BAMCEF) and the Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangarsh Samiti (DS-4), merged under the leadership of Sh. Kanshi Ram to form a political party.
7) Shiv Sena
Formed in 1966, Shiv Sena is a right-wing regional party in Maharashtra, led by Bal Thackeray in Bombay. The party primarily represents the demands of the Marathi-speaking middle-class population, with a strong focus on urban areas and Mumbai. Shiv Sena initially emerged as a party advocating for job preferences for native Maharashtrians. Over time, Shiv Sena adopted a Hindu revivalist stance and increasingly embraced a militant Hindu nationalist ideology. Shivaji, known for his pro-Maratha and anti-Muslim stance, became an important historical figure idolized by the party.
8) Aam Aadmi Party
The Aam Aadmi Party, also known as the Common Man’s Party, was founded in November 2012 by Arvind Kejriwal, a former Indian bureaucrat. The party was formed as a result of disagreements between Kejriwal and Indian activist Anna Hazare regarding the inclusion of electoral politics in the prominent 2011 Indian anti-corruption campaign. In an effort to gather civil support against high power and electricity bills, Kejriwal launched an indefinite fast on March 23, 2013, in Sundar Nagri, North-East Delhi. During the demonstration, Kejriwal advised Delhi residents not to pay “excessive” water and energy bills. The AAP also called for an audit of Delhi’s power and electrical supplies by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, with support from civil society organizations.
9) Samajwadi Party
The Samajwadi Party, also known as SP, is a socialist and democratic political party primarily active in the northern region of Uttar Pradesh. With the fragmentation of the Janata Dal into various regional parties, the Samajwadi Party emerged as one of the new political groups. In 1992, the party was established by Mulayam Singh Yadav, just a few months prior to the demolition of the Babri Masjid. The Samajwadi Party is credited with playing a significant role in maintaining peace and preventing unrest following the demolition of the Babri Masjid.
10) Shiromani Akali Dal
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is a political party in Punjab, India, with a focus on Sikh-centric issues and principles. It serves as the main advocacy organization for the Sikh community in Punjab, aiming to promote the well-being of Sikhs through both political and religious platforms. In the late 19th century, Christian missionary activities in Punjab led to reactions from various religious communities, including Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs. The Sikhs, particularly the urban population, felt marginalized in terms of job opportunities and representation under colonial administration. To bridge this gap, urban Sikhs utilized their religion as a means of uniting with rural Sikhs, who were primarily involved in agriculture or serving in the Indian Armed Forces. Gurudwaras played a crucial role in religious revivalism and bringing together urban and rural Sikhs.
