Evolution of the party system of India in modern times

Abstract

the Indian party system has its origins in the national movement for independence from colonial rule in British India, the gradual expansion of suffrage since the beginning of the 20th century, and the introduction of universal suffrage under the Constitution of independent India, which came into force in 1950. Cultural diversity, social, ethnic, caste, communal, religious pluralism, national movement traditions, contrasting leadership styles and ideological perspectives have helped shape the Indian party system. From the first parliamentary elections (back in the days of British colonial rule) and even in the first decades after gaining independence, the Indian National Congress was actually a separate party system. After gaining independence, political parties that formed the first opposition began to separate from the INC. And already for today India has the largest number of political parties in the world. Ahead of the seventeenth general election to the Lok Sabha (2019), there were 7 national parties, 52 state parties and 2,354 registered unrecognized parties in the country. It is known that at the current stage, Indian democracy is undergoing a fundamental transformation. This manifested itself in systemic changes in the nature of electoral competition, multiple increases in the number of the middle class, the penetration of social media, the destruction of old hierarchies, etc. The social and geographical expansion of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since 2014 has reshaped the political landscape, further marginalizing the Indian National Congress, weakening the Left Front, and reducing party strength at the state level.