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Party Politics in India

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Course Type Course Code No. Of Credits
Discipline Core NSUS1PO702 4

Course Coordinator and Team:                  SES Faculty

Email of course coordinator:                       pcbabed@aud.ac.in 

Pre-requisites:                                               No

Course Description: This course examines the evolution, structure, dynamics, and impact of party politics in India. It explores the historical development of political parties, their ideologies, organizational structures, electoral strategies, and their role in shaping Indian democracy. The course also delves into contemporary issues and challenges facing Indian political parties. This course aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of party politics in India, equipping students with the analytical tools to critically engage with contemporary political issues.

Course Objectives:

  • To understand the historical development of political parties in India.
  • To analyse the organizational structures and ideologies of major Indian political parties.
  • To examine the role of political parties in electoral politics and governance.
  • To explore contemporary issues and challenges in party politics in India.
  • To critically evaluate the impact of party politics on Indian democracy.

Course Outcomes:

  • Trace the historical evolution of party politics in India.
  • Compare and contrast the ideologies and structures of major political parties.
  • Assess the role of political parties in electoral processes and governance.
  • Identify and analyse contemporary challenges in Indian party politics.
  • Evaluate the influence of party politics on policy-making and democratic processes.

Brief description of Modules

Module 1: Historical Development of Political Parties in India

This module explores the evolution of political parties in India, tracing their origins, growth, and transformation over time.

  • Introduction to Indian Political Parties
  • Phases of the Indian party system: Single-dominant, multi-party, coalition era
  • Role of regional parties in shaping national politics

Module 2: Ideologies and Structures of Major Political Parties

This module delves into the core ideologies and organizational structures of the major political parties in India.

  • Indian National Congress: Ideology, organizational structure, leadership, and electoral strategies
  • Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): Ideology, organizational structure, leadership, and electoral strategies
  • Regional and Other National Parties: Ideology and structure of parties like CPI(M), NCP, DMK, TMC, AAP

Module 3: Party Politics and Electoral Dynamics

This module investigates the strategies, patterns, and outcomes of party politics and electoral processes in India.

  • Electoral System in India
  • Campaign Strategies and Voter Behaviour: Analysis of electoral campaigns, use of media, and voter mobilization strategies
  • Coalition Politics

Module 4: Contemporary Issues and Challenges in Party Politics

This module addresses current issues and challenges faced by political parties in India, focusing on their impact on democratic governance.

  • Funding of political parties, transparency, and issues of corruption
  • Parties and Social Media: Role of social media in shaping party politics and electoral outcomes
  • Challenges and Reforms: Discussion on the major challenges facing political parties and proposed reforms
  • Analysis of recent elections and emerging trends in Indian party politics

Assessment Plan

Assessment

Weightage

Assignment 1: Engagement with the educational resources. This involves in-class quizzes and short response notes

30%

Assignment 2: assignments and/or presentations

30%

Assignment 3: End-term assessment

40%

References

  • Hasan, Zoya. Parties and Party Politics in India. Oxford University Press.
  • Chandra, Kanchan. Why Ethnic Parties Succeed: Patronage and Ethnic Head Counts in India. Cambridge University Press.
  • Adam Ziegfeld, “Coalition Government and Party System Change: Explaining the Rise of Regional Political Parties in India”, Comparative Politics, Vol. 45, No. 1 (October 2012), pp. 69-87.
  • Christophe Jaffrelot and Gilles Verniers, “Re-nationalization of India's Political Party System or Continued Prevalence of Regionalism and Ethnicity?”, Asian Survey, Vol. 51, No. 6 (November/December 2011), pp. 1090-1112.
  • Adam Ziegfeld,  Why Regional Parties?: Clientelism, Elites, and the Indian Party System. Cambridge University Press (2016), “Introduction” and Ch1-“Definition and Description: Regional Political Parties in India”
  • Kohli, Atul. Democracy and Discontent: India’s Growing Crisis of Governability. Cambridge University Press.
  • Palshikar, Suhas, and Yogendra Yadav. Electoral Politics in India: The Resurgence of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Routledge.
  • Jaffrelot, Christophe. The Hindu Nationalist Movement and Indian Politics. Penguin Books.
  • Online resources: Election Commission of India website, political party websites, news portals for current developments.
  • Rajni Kothari, "Politics in India"
  • Peter Ronald deSouza and E. Sridharan (Eds.), "India’s Political Parties"
  • Pradeep K. Chhibber, "Indian Politics in Comparative Perspective"
  • Peter Mair, "Political Parties and Party Systems"
  • Rob Jenkins (Ed.), "Regional Reflections: Comparing Politics Across India's States"
  • Stanley A. Kochanek, "The Congress Party of India: The Dynamics of One-Party Democracy"
  • Thomas Blom Hansen and Christophe Jaffrelot (Eds.), "The BJP and the Compulsions of Politics in India"
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