Is the BJP the sole democratic political party in India?
No, the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) is not the only democratic political party in India. India is a vibrant democracy boasting a multi-party system that allows multiple political parties to participate in electoral processes at both national and regional levels. The variation of these parties symbolizes the wide cultural, linguistic, and ideological expanse in the country. Although the BJP is one of the strongest national parties, several other political parties are instrumental in deciding what the current politics of the country will be. There are essentially two types of parties-the national parties that directly participate in the nation's politics, and various regional parties that mostly have an interest in the specific localities.
National Political Parties
Apart from the BJP, there are several other national political parties in India, which conduct their election campaigns at the Centre. Although these parties may have very little beyond a pan-Indian presence, they can still contest elections across several states.
1. Indian National Congress (INC): As one of India's oldest and most prominent political parties, the INC was the dominant party in the Indian independence movement and remained the powerful party in India's politics for generations after Indian independence. The Congress has been a strong supporter of secularism, social welfare policies and economic reforms. Though the INC has lost its hegemony in recent times to the BJP, it is still one of the essential players in Indian politics.
2. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP): In 2012, AAP emerged from the anti-corruption campaign led by activist Anna Hazare. For the last five years, the party has been leading the government of Delhi. Here its focus has been on reforms in governance, education, health, and anti-graft activities. AAP still is in a phase of consolidation at the national level but is an important regional force.
3. Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)]: CPI(M) is a left-wing party, advocating socialism and Marxism. Though it has lost much of its influence lately, it remains an influential force in politics, mainly at the state level, in West Bengal, Kerala, and Tripura. It advocates land reform, workers' rights, and public sector control over private ones.
4. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP): NCP was founded by Sharad Pawar in 1999 when he quit the Indian National Congress. The party normally adopts a centerist stance and has sent coalition governments at the centre as well as states many times. NCP is a strong political actor in Maharashtra where it has jointly functioned with the Congress Party on several occasions.
Regional Political Parties
Besides national parties, India has a very diversified menu of regional parties that contribute substantially to state politics and, in many cases, determine national alliances. Regional parties tend to be organized around differences in languages, cultures, or ethnicities and address issues far more proximate than those addressed by national parties.
1. Trinamool Congress (TMC): Formed by Mamata Banerjee, erstwhile leader of the Congress Party, in West Bengal. Today, the TMC so happens to be the ruling party in West Bengal with a very strong regional flavor. Its agenda is dominated by issues on federalism, social justice and welfare of the marginalized section of the state.
2. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK): DMK is the strongest political party in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The party originated from the Dravidian movement, a product of a desire to redress social and political imbalances, wherein Brahmins dominated social space in Tamil Nadu. DMK espouses rights for the states, social justice, and the cause of Tamil groups.
3. Shiv Sena: Founded by Bal Thackeray in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena has typically been the votary of the rights of Marathi-speaking people and articulates a very aggressive Hindu nationalist agenda. Of late, though, the party has gradually moved toward the centre, especially after breaking off its long-term alliance with the BJP.
4. Telugu Desam Party (TDP): TDP emerged from the leadership of N.T. Rama Rao; this party has functioned to be a power house of ruling for Andhra Pradesh. The party promotes regional pride and development, especially of the Telugu-speaking peoples.
Role of Coalition Politics
Given the heterogeneity of the political landscape in India, coalitions have been an inevitable feature, with frequent national coalitions being observed. None of the parties, including the BJP, could single-handedly dominate Indian politics in the manner of Britain or the United States, for instance. Therefore, national and regional parties have had to enter coalitions very frequently. Only two national coalitions have been formed so far. One is the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), led by the Congress. The other is the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the BJP.
These alliances also reflect the role of regional parties in national politics. For instance, after having been a strong ally of the BJP for more than two decades, the Shiv Sena parted ways from the NDA to form a coalition government in Maharashtra along with the Congress and NCP, thus proving how regional factors can influence national political strategies seriously.
Conclusion
India is an inclusive and pluralistic democracy that allows several parties to play in the system and represent this highly diverse nation. The fact that it is one of the major political forces of this country makes BJP not the only democratic party of India. National Parties such as the Congress, AAP, CPI(M), and NCP, along with powerful regional parties, like the TMC, DMK, Shiv Sena, and TDP, form a crucial part of the democratic fabric of this country. Such parties make the India's democracy very vibrant by bringing out all kinds of ideological perspectives along with intact local interests.