CHAPTER-I

INTRODUCTION

The Regional Parties are not new to the Indian Politics. They have come into existence way back to 1916 with the rise of Justice Party in the then . Gradually these parties are playing a key role. They are emerging more powerful and grown up to dictating terms to the National Parties. There is a strong leadership who can put down the National Parties. Some regional parties even turned into national parties like (BSP), Samajvadi Party (SP) and even to some extent. The and Shiv Sena have played very important role both at their respective states as well as at the centre. This study is a comparison between them. Many facts about their nature and style of functioning and performance also examined.

Regionalism is a burning topic in India. The emergence of Regional Parties in various parts of the country has become common now a day. The regional parties in the states instigate the regional sentiments of the people. "'Using the regional sentiments is a weapon in the battle of power politics." The regional parties are weakening the National Parties and it has become difficult for them to form governments at the centre without the support of the regional parties, because they have become strong in certain sates. Since 1989 it has become common phenomenon to form coalition governments at the centre. Political analysts have come to conclusion that the days of single party forming the government at the Centre is over. Since very long time the National parties either had pre-poll alliances or post-poll alliances to come to power at the centre. The regionalism has become so complicated and has raised so many questions.

What is regionalism: Region and regionalism are topics common to all the social Sciences. The term Regionalism has been derived from the word 'region". Region is a part of a country or a state or a province of a part of the country. "Region in the Social sciences, a cohesive area that is homogenous in selected defining criteria and is distinguished from neighboring areas or regions by those criteria. It is an intellectual construct created by the selection of features relevant". According to encyclopedia of Britannica, the concept of region is currently used on analysis, planning and administration of many national and international public programmes. Regional consciousness, the ideological correlate of the concept that develops from a sense of identity within the region, is important in many historical, political and social analyses.

Regionalism in India is so complex. It has no particular line of path. Within a particular region there are sub regional demands for instance within a Uni-Lingual regions there are separatist movements in many states in India, for instance in Maharashtra there is a separate Vidharbha demand, in Andhara Pradesh the northern districts, erstwhile Nizams ruled Telugu speaking areas which are socially, economically, educationally backward demanding for separates since 1960's. At last they could achieve separate Telangana state on 02" June 2014. In the same way separate Sourashtra state demand in Gujarat, separate Bundelkhand, Poorvanchal states in Uttar Pradesh, Midhilanchal in Bhiar and Madhya Pradesh also such demands came up.

The results of 2014 general elections to the Lok Sabha raised the eyebrows of the poUtical analysts. A single Party with absolute majority party formed the government at the centre. However BJP had a pre-poll alliance with many regional parties in various states in the country the Telugu Desam is one among them which had pre-poll alliance in Andhra Pradesh and in Telangana. The single largest part needs the support of the regional parties who have the numbers in the Lok Sabha in order to get bring some constitutional changes. The BJP as a single party allowe^^e*^* "^^ coalition at the centre even though it doesn't depend on the support of the regiaffad parties but to consolidate its position. Y^V

Tlie role of regional parties in the management of national parties: the regional parties could control the governments at the centre when the national parties had less strength in the Lok Sabha. The chiefs of the regional parties could steer the Prime Minister in decision making. The Prime Minister had to dance to the tunes of the strong regional party leaders. They had to fulfill the whims and fancies or desires of the state parties which were in power. For instance Chandra Babu of TDP government got more funds and there allocations to Andhra Pradesh during the tenure of government 1996 and BJP government in 1999 respectively. Jaya Lalitha of AIADMK too did the same. Karunanidhi of DMK and Mamata Benargy of Trinamul could manage to satisfy their desires in getting funds allocation and allocation of big national projects and key posts like Railways etc. in the central cabinet as well as in the government. The Shiv Sena too made similar demands and could get speaker post in the Lok Sabha 2002.

SCOPE OF RESEARCH & METHODOLOGY

SCOPE OF THE RESEARCH

The scope of research has been taken from 1980 to 2005.

Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra states are chosen to conduct research where Telugu Desam Party and Shiv Sena are emerged as regional parties.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

1. Investigate to bring out the roots of Regionalism in India and the causes and circumstances paved the way for the emergence of regional parties. 2. To find out what is the base or support for the rise of regional parties. 3. Whether thy have been changing their ideologies quite often from time to time? 4. To examine what are the policies and programs of TDP and Shiv Sena. 5. To find out why the regional parties give more importance for the subsidy schemes, rather than the constructive projects although there is resource crunch due to the implementation of welfare schemes. 6. What is the attitude of the regional parties towards the center? What exactly they expect from the center. Is it appropriate under the federal structure in order to maintain unity and integrity of the nation? 7. Examine the electoral performance of TDP, Shiv Sena in the Assembly and parliament elections. 8. To find out any danger posed by the regional parties for the national unity integrity and sovereignty. 9. To find out what is the role of regional parties in the national polities and coalition government?

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Primary source: This research project is carried out in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra with the help of personal interviews with the prominent leaders of the Telugu Desam Party and Shiv Sena from the grass root level to the top executives. Interviews also been conducted with the voters in politically important regions to get to know the opinions and voting behavior with structured questionnaire and random sampling method was adopted for interviews. Questions were open ended.

Secondary Source: The literature, election manifestos, constitutions, Resolutions of the Telugu Desam and Shiv Sena parties, and periodicals. Journals, Magazines, Daily Newspapers, Reports of the Government Departments, Published Books etc., are the main sources of information.

Sampling Method Sampling method was adapted to conduct interviews with voters as well as the office bearers of both the Parties in the states of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh because of the area of research is very wide and as I had to visit Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra states which are geographically big states in India. A lot of physical energy patience, time and financial resources were used to conduct interviews. Random sampling method was also adopted because of the office bearers of the two Parties were not available readily on many occasions as I had to wait for days together for their appointment. I have randomly picked up some important and key leaders for interviews who ever were available at times in various distpicts in both Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh covering almost all the Districts. Steps in the Research Method 1. Interview Method - interviews are conducted with Voters of the Maharashtra state and Voters of the Andhra Pradesh state in all the regions.

2. Random Sample Method was adopted in choosing the voters. I have taken the samples with all groups of the voters like educated, unemployed, traders, private employees, house wives, small businessmen, daily waged laborers. Auto rickshaw drivers, agricultural farmers, and agricultural laborers. Teachers, Lecturers and Professors. Therefore all the communities of the society were touched and covered.

Review of Literature

The study of related literature is of Prime importance in any type of scientific research. This helps the researcher to know how much work has been done in the field related to the issue under investigation. From the perspective of the doctoral thesis the broader aim of review of related literature is to demonstrate one's command over the subject area, a professional grasp of knowledge and ability to emulate the present research as well as that of others. It will also allow the researcher to display the 'exercise' of independent critical power. It helps us to take up unfinished tasks and fulfill the gaps of the research.

The present literature of review will not just attempt to illustrate the main areas of understanding; but should also point out current areas that are less will understand. The review will present an overview of the subject, its content in the wider research discipline.

This will involve an evolution of both the quality of the arguments and the evidence that underpin current understanding. Such a critical evolution will provide an opportunity to make a novel contribution to the integration and understanding of research subject. Research can never be undertaken in isolation. It has to take advantage of the past knowledge which has already been accumulated in a particular area. Hence the review of literature would help to understand in a particular area. Hence the review of literature would help to understand to what extend a subject is studied and explored. In this chapter the researcher has made an attempt to review a number of hteratures in Regionahsm in India which comes under the present purview of the research problem.

The Problem of the Study:

The present research is an attempt to study with Regionalism in India. It is a burning topic since recent times. The regional Parties are playing pivotal role in Indian Politics. Since 1989 the formation of Government at the Centre becomes difficult due to emergence of Regional Parties in various states and without the support of the Regional Parties the National Parties are not able to form Government at the Centre. The hung Parliaments have become a common scenario after general elections to the Lok Sabha since 1989. And at the same time the survival of the government also depends on the pleasure of the Regional Parties not on the President of India or the single largest Party that forms the Government. This study makes a deep analysis on the emergence of Regional Parties and why the National Parties have miserably failed to satisfy the demands of the different regions and their aspirations. How long this kind of domination of regional parties would continue is a million dollars question. «^^

Settlement df Problem >

Are the regional parties responsible for the hung parliaments which are occurring continuously at the centre? Is it true that without the support of the regional parties no national party will be able to form the government at the centre? Is it a failure of national parties? Is it true that the regional parties controlling the national parties which are leading the government are at the centre? Are the regional aspirations, regional pride, concept of outsiders promote national unity and integrity in the country? What are the root causes of emergency of regional parties in the states? Will the multiparty system ruin the stability of the governments at the centre? Is it true that the era of coalition politics to stay forever.

Regional Parties have emerged stronger in India to such an extent of blackmailing and controlling the central government for their whims and fancies. Be it more funds from central exchequer for the development of their states, be it a good 7 ministerial post in central cabinet, and be it sanction of central government project at the states which is crucial for the development of the state ?

To avoid constitutional crisis in formation of the government at the centre due to fractured mandate given by the voters (as a result of strong base for regional parties in the sates) a constitutional amendment may be required to stop the regional parties to contest in the Lok Sabha elections as the Rajya Sabha in any way representing the states and protecting the interests of the states. So that a strong central government would be formed which will not jolt for the shocks given by the regional governments or parties in the states?

HYPOTHESIS:

Regional political parties have been playing a major role in Indian Polity. At present they are also playing a decisive role in the formation of governments at the center. Literally they have become King Makers. They have been emerging as alternative to the national parties in many states. The policies and programs of these parties are very popular. They also brought radical reforms in the administration. They started reviewing the age old traditions in the administration and decentralizing the political authority. It is feared that the creation of smaller states may lead to unstable goverrmients.

Regional parties brought a lot of changes in the political process in India. They have brought competitive spirit in the political party system. A couple of decades ago when congress dominated the the MLA's and MP's hardly visited their constituencies and the politics were remain limited to the political elite and the rich only. But the emergence of regional parties injected new and young blood into the politics. Those who never dreamt of becoming a MLA or MP in their life could now become MLAs and MPs. This trend has created enthusiasm among the middle class and lower class people and brought them closer to the politics. The regional parties also reduced the gap between the politicians and the common man and they have created a strong opposition to the national parties at both state and the centre. The competition among the leaders of different parties led to solving the problems of 8 the people and serving the masses in a much better way. The regional parties are attracting the masses with their welfare and subsidy schemes.

The role of regional parties in national politics have become crucial and key to formation of the central governments due to the hung parliaments which are occurring continuously at the center and without the support of the regional parties no national party is able to form the government. We can say that the National Parties are miserably failed to avoid the emergence of regional parties. They are unable to identify the regional leaders and recognize their abilities, popularities and their capabilities. It happened on many occasions the regional parties have emerged not on ideological differences with the national parties but due to non recognition of strong and able leadership and sideling them due to the dirty politics. The high commands of the national parties many times underestimated the power of the regional parties and never took steps to avoid damage or damage control measures were never taken as it happened in Congress. The more are the regional parties the less well be the strength of the National Parties. The regional parties' certainly weaken the National Parties. If in many states the regional parties become strong and win majority of seats in Lok Saba elections the National parties have to render support to the regional alliance to form the government. In such case the National Parties would be reduced to the level of Regional Parties. It is evident that both Congress and BJP lost power in many states and are not able to consolidate their position yet. So is it a failure of National Parties? The proposed scheme of chapters is as follows: Chapter-I: Introduction Chapter - II: Regionalism

Chapter- III: Emergence of regional political parties in India Chapter- IV: Coalition governments and the role of regional parties in India Chapter- V: Emergence of Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh Chapter - VI: Emergence of Shiv Sena in Maharashtra Chapter- VII: Regional imbalances and economic backwardness Chapter- VIII: Federalism - resent trends and centre state relations. Chapter - IX: Comparative study between TDP and Shiv Sena Chapter- X: Conclusion