sign in sign up
<<
Home , Akali Dal (1920), Apna Dal, Apna Dal (Sonelal), Federal Front, Murli Manohar Joshi, Prashant Kishor

B. R. A. University, Muzaffarpur: M.A. Political Science (CBCS) Semester II (2018-20) MPOL CC 09 Core Course Paper 09: Political Processes and Governance in —Dr Anil Kumar Ojha, Professor, University Department of Political Science, BRABU (Email:[email protected], whatsapp: 9572110223, mobile:9430526223)

Study Material e-content Series 02 Monday, 27 April 2020 Unit 3: Lecture-1 Topic 5: Phases of Electoral Politics: 2014 onwards Dear Students, In this series, we shall have an introductory discussion on the topics: Electoral Politics in India since 2014 Elections for the Sixteenth in the year 2014 heralded a new chapter in electoral politics in India. Its main features are 1. The emergence of loose bipolar party system at the national level. 2. At the level of states, it was a picture of multiple bipolarities. For example Kerala (UDF versus LDF), (Trinamool versus Left versus BJP versus ), (BJP+ versus versus BSP versus Congress), Bihar (NDA versus UPA versus JD(U)+,) (BJP+Akal- versus Congress versus ). 3. Before 2014 elections, political parties were by and large grouped into pro-BJP and anti-BJP blocs. Congress was leading the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and BJP was leading the National Democratic Alliance (UPA). 4. BJD of , TRS of , Trinammol Congress of West Bengal had toyed with the idea of a or . 5. NCP was aligned with the Congress in and in Bihar the Congress was aligned with the RJD. 6. BJP had alliance with in Maharashtra, LJP and RLSP in Bihar, in Punjab, TDP in . BJP also had an alliance in Tamil Nadu. A BJP partner in Bihar since 1996, JD (U), had left NDA in 2013 on the issue of projecting (the then chief minister of ) as its prime ministerial face. Senior leaders L K Advani, Murli Manohar , and were also not agreeable to the proposal. Even , Venkiah Naidu were in

1

the same league. Only and had fallen in line. BJP is organically linked with the RSS and its affiliates. These organisations had pushed for Modi. 7. The Left parties were centred in Kerala, West Bengal and . The Left had entered into alliance with DMK and others in Tamil Nadu. JD (U) was aligned with CPI in Bihar. 8. For the first time after 1984; a single party, BJP, had secured absolute majority of seats. The incumbent Congress was reduced to 44 seats in Lok Sabha. 9. India’s 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2004 and 2009 Lok Sabha elections had witnessed hung parliament. BJP had emerged as single largest party in 1996, 1998 and 1999. The Congress had emerged as single largest party in 1989, 1991, 2004 and 2009 • Before the 2014 elections, political scene was dominated by Anna Hazare led India Against Corruption movement, disclosures about scandals related to Common Wealth Games, allotment of coal mines, spectrum of airwaves for telecom. News reports about the C&AG findings and court hearings in these cases had influenced public opinion, which largely turned against the Congress. • Besides print and electronic media – newspapers, magazines and television news channels; social media – face book, twitter, whatsapp, instagram etc were extensively used during the election campaign. • BJP was far ahead of the Congress in aggressively campaign. Indian corporate sector, (trade. Commerce and industry) had generously contributed to BJP election fund. Media platforms owned by Indian industrialists had openly supported the BJP. It engaged the services of poll strategist and his time. • A slogan like achche din was propagated. The BJP focussed on dynastic leadership of Congress. It termed ten years of UPA government led by as maa bête ki Sarkar. • However, the opponents accused the BJP of pursuing the politics of in the garb of nationalism. • During electioneering, state-level issues, leaderships, caste configurations had also played decisive role. Highlights of 2014 election results:

2

Party-wise number of seats and percentage of votes polled are given hereunder. For major parties, a few indicative figures of state-wise seats are also provided hereunder. • BJP: 282/31.34%; (U.P.:71, M.P.:27, Maharashtra:23, Bihar:22, :25, Gujarat:26, : 17. The BJP swept , , , , , Chattisgarh, , and Daman and Diu. It got 12 in , 7 in , 2 in Andhra Pradesh, 3 of the 6 seats in Jammu & Kashmir. 7 in and 2 in West Bengal). • Congress: 44/19.52%;(Kerala:8, Assam:3, Arunachal:1, M.P.:2, U.P.:2. Bihar:2, Maharashtra:2, Punjab:3, :2, Mizoram:1, Haryana:1,Meghalaya:1, West Bengal:4, :1) • CPM: 9/3.28%; (Kerala 5, W.B.2, Tropura 2) • CPI: 1/0.78%; (Kerala) • NCP:6/1.58%;(Maharashtra 4, Lakshadweep 1, Bihar 1) • BSP: 0/4.19 Six national parties had won altogether 342 out of 543 seats. Among the regional parties, ADMK secured 37 in Tamil Nadu, Trinamool Congress 34 in W.B. BJD 20 in Odisha, Shiv Sena 18 in Maharashtra, TDP 16 and TRS 11 in Andhra Pradesh, LJP 6, RLSP 3, JD(U) 2 and RJD 4 in Bihar, AIUDF 3 in Assam, Samajwadi Party 5 in U.P, Akali Dal 4 and Aam Aadmi Party 4 in Punjab, PDP 3 in Jammu and Kashmir, JMM 2 in Jharkhand, Muslim League 2 and (Mani) 1in Kerala. AINRC won the lone Puducherry seat. JD (S) 2 in Karnataka. Many other regional in Sikkim, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and other states got seats.

• 2014 was the most acrimonious and expensive election. The BJP contested with determination to form government. Outside the NDA, the UPA, Left and other parties were firm in obstructing it. However, the results showed that India has entered into the era of surplus coalition. The new NDA coalition comprised of BJP, TDP, Shiv Sena, Akali Dal, LJP, RLSP, , RPI (Athawale) and others. But the ministry was dependent on allies. • The government took many transformative initiatives in domestic, financial, strategic and foreign affairs. Scrapping of Planning Commission, Demonetisation, introduction of GST, deepening of relationship with the USA, surgical strikes in Pakistan and others. The BJP strengthened its organisation and pursued its own agenda. Its emphasis on nationalism was criticised by opponents as majoritarianism.

3

• The BJP won many assembly elections. But it could not win Bihar, Punjab, Delhi. Later, it lost M.P., Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. It formed alliances with many regional parties in north-eastern states. It also lost allies such as TDP, RLSP, J&K PDP; and gained JD(U) between 2014 and 2019. • The Congress remained aggressive against the BJP leadership, particularly Modi and . Congress committee to review 2014 resuts headed by A.K. Antony pointed out that people in large perceive the Congress doing minority appeasement. It resulted into ’s temple visits during Gujarat and Karnataka assembly elections. • During 2014-19, the left-liberals in academia, civil society and media consistently opposed BJP government’s policies and actions.

Electoral politics in 2019 Lok Sabha elections for the This election was also polarised. Seven national parties had won 397 out of 543seats. ▪ The BJP improved its tally with from 282 to 303 seats (31.34% to 37.76% votes). Its allies JD(U) 16 and LJP 6 in Bihar, Shiv Sena 18, Akali Dal 2 and ADMK 1. Its allies in north-east also won seats. ▪ BJP seats came from U.P. 62, M.P.27, Gujarat 26, Karnataka 25, Rajasthan 24, Maharashtra 23, W.B.18, Bihar 17, Jharkhand 11, Haryana 10, Chhattisgarh 9, Assam 9, Odisha 8, Delhi 7, Uttarakhand 5, Himachal Pradesh 4, three in J k, two each from Punjab, Arunachal and Tripura, and one seat each from Goa, Daman, Chandigarh and Manipur. ▪ The Congress got 52 seats. But it got further decimated in Odisha (1), Assam (3), and West Bengal(2). It maintained its hold in Kerala by winning 15 seats and in Punjab (8 seats). Party president Rahul Gandhi lost his seat in Amethi (U.P.), though he won from Kerala’s Wayanad. It won 8 seats in alliance with the DMK. It got 1 each in U P, M.P., Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, and Andaman. ▪ Among the Congress allies DMK got 23 in Tamil Nadu, IUML 2 and Kerala Congress (Mani) 1 in Kerala, JMM 1 in Jharkhand, JD (S) 2, in Karnataka, J& K National Conference 3, and NCP won 5. ▪ The Trinamool Congress won 22 in W.B., BSP in alliance with the S.P.in U.P won 10, while S.P. won 5. ▪ Among the Left parties; the CPM won 3 and CPI 2 seats. ▪ A notable victory was registered by the YSR Congress party in Andhra. It won 22 seats. TDP got 3, TRS 9 in Telangana, AIMIM retained its seat.

4

▪ Thus, it is clear from the above description that the BJP has emerged as a dominant party in a competitive multiparty syste. The coalition led by the BJP is a surplus one as the existence of the government is dependent upon allies’ continued support. But, the BJP goal of Congress mukt Bharat has not been realised. T ▪ he BJP lost its decades old Hindutva ally, Shiv Sena, over formation of state ministry in Maharashtra. The BJP and Sena were pre-poll allies. But, Sena parting company BJP allied with the Congress and NCP. Its other pre-poll ally from Bihar, the JD (U) did not accept offer of joining Modi government. It was demanding proportionate representation in sharing of power instead of symbolic one. ▪ During led NDA coalition between 1998 and 2004, the coordination committee with as convenor used to meet frequently. Similarly, during UPA rule from 2004 to 2014 and (1996-98), core group under and Chandra Babu Naidu regularly met to finalise governance and political matters. The convenor of during V.P. Singh period was N T Rama Rao. But the present coalition since 2014 has shunned any such proposal from allies. Thus, electoral politics in era of surplus national coalition is dominated by the BJP. Congress, sometimes, unsuccessfully seek to rope in non-BJP parties under its leadership as the TDP, TRS, BJD and Trinamool Congress seem reluctant to accept Congress stewardship. ▪ Congress is in power in Punjab, Chhattisgah, Rajasthan and Puducherry. It is part of ruling alliance in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. The BJP is yet to make its debut in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.Several regional parties in W.B., Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Telangana, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and north eastern states are holding ground. ------

5