1. Current Politics 1.Congress years 1947-1996 2.Years of Competition 1996-present – Two Party System? – Two Half Parties? – Regional parties?

2. Nehru Dynasty Jawaharlal NehruIndira Gandhi PM 1947-64PM 1966-77, 80-84

3. Congress Dominates Election YearSeats for CongressSeats for Second Largest Party 195236416 195737127 196236129 196728344 197135244 1977 (lost power)154298 (Janata Party alliance) 198035335 198441530 1989 (lost power)197143 1991 (formed coalition)226120

4. Indira Gandhi

5. Congress (I)

6. 1984 Golden Temple of Amritsar

7. Congress after Indira Gandhi 1984-19891991-1996 Rajiv GandhiP. V. N. Rao

8. Years of Competition Factors End of Nehru Dynasty Economic reform Corruption in Congress Rise of regional, religious, caste- based parties

9. 1996 Election Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 160 Congress Party 136 National Front 110 National Front forms government

10. 1998 Election BJP 176 Congress Party 140 United Front 97

11. 1998 BJP forms government National Democratic Alliance (15 parties) PM A. B. Vajpayee 1998-2004 Indian nuclear tests MayMay 1998

12. Congress Regroups Sonia Gandhi

13. 1999 Election BJP 182 Congress Party 112 BJP/NDA remains in power

14. 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

15. 2004 Election BJP 138 Congress Party 145 (UPA 219) Left Parties56 UPA and Leftist parties form coalition PM Manmohan Singh

16. 2009 Election BJP 116 Congress Party 206 UPA retains power PM Manmohan Singh

17. 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

18. 1. Two parties or Two Half Parties? 272 (273) the magic number! Stability? PartyCongressBJP 1991226119 1996136160 1998140176 1999112182 2004145138 2009206116

19. 2. Regional Parties 2009 Lok Sabha 2 National parties 1 semi-national party (CPI-M) with seats in four states 39 Regional parties

20. 3. Religion and Politics BJP History Hindutva (Hindu Nationalism) Hindutva RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) RSS Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council)

21. Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh Babri Mosque 16 th Century Ayodhya Temple

22. Babri Mosque, December 6, 1992

23. Fallout of 1992 1992-1993 Riots Gujarat 2002 Liberhan Commission Report Narendra ModiL. K. Advani Chief Minister of Gujarat President BJP

24. 4. Congress and the Nehru Dynasty

25. 5. Celebrity and Corruption Jayalalitha of Tamil Nadu