Indian Politics — An Overview
Indian Politics has grown in popularity over the years. From the strikes which take place almost every day to the newly proposed policies by the ruling government — everything has caught the attention of the citizens(not all citizens, only those who follow it every day with great attention). Almost all those who follow politics in the country have their own opinion, which is good. There are people who support the actions of the politicians of the country, while at the same time there are people who oppose it. At the same time, there exists another group of people — the so-called ‘critics’. This is one such group which knows only to criticize Indian politics and always calls for changes in the political system. So the real question is — Is Indian Politics the way it should be or should there be a call for a change in the political system?
Elections in India are conducted by the Election Commission. There are mainly four types of elections. The elections are for :
- Members of State Legislative Assembly
- Members of the Parliament in Lok Sabha
- Members of the Parliament in Rajya Sabha
- Member of State Legislative Council
- Members in local panchayat or city corporation council.
- By-election is held when a person of a particular constituent dies or resigns.
Since the country achieved independence in 1947, it has been estimated that over 200 political parties have been formed — with the main parties being Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP) and Indian National Congress(INC). These two parties have mostly or completely dominated national politics over the years. Each political party has its own unique symbol which helps them to distinguish themselves from other political parties. Some features of political parties in India are:
> Leaders of each party play a very important role in maintaining the fundamentals of the party and make important decisions on behalf of the party by consulting with other leaders.
> The leadership role is transferred from one leader to another. In recent times, it has usually taken a dynastic route.
Over the years, there have been several changes in the political framework of their country. One such change is the number of parties contesting in elections. In earlier times, the number of parties contesting elections was very few in number. However, over the years the trend of fragmentation in political parties has grown. Today, the number of parties contesting elections is a very huge number. This is a good trend as the competition becomes high.
As is already known, Indian politics works within the framework of the country’s constitution. The rules proposed in the constitution of India have to be followed strictly by all the political parties of the country. The constitution is the one which gives the powers and limitations to both the central and state governments and they must conform to it. When the laws are broken by a political party or member, they must face the consequences. So it is no surprise that in recent times, such instances have been very few in number. Also, nowadays, Indian politics has succeeded in creating more awareness among people about present issues and has increased the active participation of people. Another area where politics has its influence is on the youth of the nation. By making people politically conscious at a very early age, a foundation is built for a stronger nation for the future.
At the same time, Indian politics has its own set of drawbacks. Some politicians fall in the big trap called money, which can end up ruining their whole life. Another group of people who have been negatively impacted in recent times is the youth, especially those who take part in protest marches and strikes. In recent times, many youths have lost their lives in such demonstrations.
The latest problems faced by India include unemployment, economy, agrarian distress and a lot more. The latest move on article 370 and 35A is also a bit controversial but it is still a strong move.
Politics is like a game which needs to be played very carefully. If played well, there will never be a problem. However, carelessness can ruin everything.
Politics in India must be focused on the development of the nation. As was rightly quoted by Dr Abdul Kalam,
“What is politics? The political system is equal to developmental politics plus political politics.”
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