Current Politics 1.Congress years Years of Competition 1996-present – Two Party System? – Two Half Parties? – Regional parties?
Nehru Dynasty Jawaharlal NehruIndira Gandhi PM PM , 80-84
Congress Dominates Election YearSeats for CongressSeats for Second Largest Party (lost power) (Janata Party alliance) (lost power) (formed coalition)226120
Indira Gandhi
Congress (I)
1984 Golden Temple of Amritsar
Congress after Indira Gandhi Rajiv GandhiP. V. N. Rao
Years of Competition Factors End of Nehru Dynasty Economic reform Corruption in Congress Rise of regional, religious, caste- based parties
1996 Election Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 160 Congress Party 136 National Front 110 National Front forms government
1998 Election BJP 176 Congress Party 140 United Front 97
1998 BJP forms government National Democratic Alliance (15 parties) PM A. B. Vajpayee Indian nuclear tests MayMay 1998
Congress Regroups Sonia Gandhi
1999 Election BJP 182 Congress Party 112 BJP/NDA remains in power
2004 Election BJP/NDA “India Shining” vs. Congress/United Progressive Alliance (UPA) “It is a contest between the Congress…and the BJP that is systematically undermining the very essence of Indian civilization and destroying the very idea of India.” 2004 Election Manifesto
2004 Election BJP 138 Congress Party 145 (UPA 219) Left Parties56 UPA and Leftist parties form coalition PM Manmohan Singh
2009 Election BJP 116 Congress Party 206 UPA retains power PM Manmohan Singh
2014 Election PartySeats BJP276 Congress44 AIADMK (Tamil Nadu)37 AITC (West Bengal)34 BJD (Odisha)20 SHS (Maharashtra)16 TDP (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana))16 TRS (Telangana)11 CPM9 YRSP (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana)9
BJP Back in Power Results Map of results
But New Delhi Election 2015 Aam Aadmi Party Arvind Kejriwal PartySeats (70 total) Aam Aadmi Party67 BJP3
Challenges and Developments 1.Two parties or Two Half Parties 2.Regional parties 3.Religion and Politics 4.Can Congress get beyond the Dynasty? 5.Celebrity and Corruption
1. Two parties or Two Half Parties? 272 (273) the magic number! Stability? PartyCongressBJP
2. Regional Parties 2009 Lok Sabha 2 National parties 1 semi-national party (CPI-M) with seats in four states 39 Regional parties
3. Religion and Politics BJP History Hindutva (Hindu Nationalism) Hindutva RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) RSS Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council)
Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh Babri Mosque 16 th Century Ayodhya Temple
Babri Mosque, December 6, 1992
Fallout of Riots Gujarat 2002 Liberhan Commission Report Narendra ModiL. K. Advani Chief Minister of Gujarat President BJP
4. Congress and the Nehru Dynasty
5. Celebrity and Corruption Jayalalitha of Tamil Nadu