| The writing on the wall is fairly clear: the days of | | | | backwardness of several states and that they lacked |
| single-party rule at the centre are over for Indian | | | | a national perspective, much to the ire of many |
| democracy. Today only a coalition government which | | | | regional parties. What he meant to say, perhaps, was |
| can hold its partners together through thick and thin | | | | that regional parties indulged more in regionalism rather |
| can hope to form a government at the centre. What | | | | than having a broader vision of the country. At times it |
| has given rise to such development is the rise of | | | | is difficult to draw line between regionalism and |
| regional parties which try hard to make their presence | | | | nationalism. If a nation is a sum total of multi-cultural, |
| felt at the centre as well. | | | | linguistic and ethnic regions, regionalism is a natural fall |
| When Indian democracy had its first elections in 1952 | | | | out and cannot be ignored easily. Though regional |
| there were hardly any regional parties. In fact, it was | | | | parties try to draw greater political mileage out of |
| the Congress party which held its sway over the | | | | regional issues, no one can deny the fact that all |
| nation. Even in the sixties the national parties won | | | | regions must be given adequate attention. |
| nearly 90 per cent of seats. That trend has changed | | | | The other important aspect is that in several instances |
| considerably today. In the 2004 general elections, | | | | regional parties eventually grow to become national |
| regional parties won as many as 43 per cent of the | | | | parties. The present Bharatiya Janatha Party had its |
| total number of seats and national parties 57 per cent. | | | | origin in the erstwhile Jan Sangh which was a regional |
| Today there are 47 regional parties and over 400 | | | | party. The Bahujan Samaj Party is contesting |
| smaller parties vying with one another for their share | | | | independently in all Lok Sabha constituencies in these |
| of pie. | | | | elections. The Left parties are no longer regional |
| It is not at all surprising that today two states are ruled | | | | parties as they have their strong presence in several |
| by independent regional parties and in as many as | | | | states and are contesting Lok Sabha elections in many |
| eight states there is an alliance government of regional | | | | states. Even National Congress Party and Samajwadi |
| and national parties. In Tamil Nadu, for example, national | | | | Party are contesting in several states. While regional |
| parties have hardly a chance. The regional parties | | | | parties want to strengthen their base in their core |
| have dominated the scene since 1967. Andhra | | | | states, they also want to grow nationally as a power |
| Pradesh was ruled by the Telugu Desham Party | | | | to reckon with. |
| between 1983 and 1989 and between 1994 and 2004. | | | | The rise of regional parties can only be attributed to |
| Uttar Pradesh has also been ruled by regional parties | | | | the failure of national parties to give due importance to |
| for greater part of the last two decades. National | | | | the regional aspirations of people. While it may be true |
| parties do not seem to make any significant progress | | | | that regional parties fail to have a national vision and |
| in their voters’ share in UP. | | | | think only of their region, single party rule, as history has |
| Whether such a trend is good for Indian democracy | | | | shown, can be authoritarian, caring little for the regional |
| can be debated; but one cannot ignore the fact that in | | | | issues. It is here that the formation of the Third Front |
| a large democracy smaller parties do have a place | | | | consisting mostly regional parties can make a |
| and also have a crucial role to play. It is possible that in | | | | difference. Combining both national and regional |
| the larger interest of the Nation, the local aspirations of | | | | aspirations, though difficult, is not impossible. If they are |
| people can be totally forgotten by national parties. It is | | | | able to put their sectarian politics behind and |
| here that local and regional parties can bargain hard to | | | | concentrate on more pertinent issues that trouble the |
| get fair representation of local needs. | | | | country, indeed, the Third Front can bring about a |
| Recently Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, said that | | | | breath of fresh air into the Indian democracy. |
| regional parties were responsible for the | | | | |