EASTERN ACADEMY IMPHAL

CUET-UG

POLITICAL SCIENCE

CH: 9 RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN INDIAN POLITICS

As the decade of the eighties came to a close, the country witnessed five developments that were
to make a long-lasting impact on our politics.

i. First, the defeat of the Congress party in the elections held in 1989. The elections of
1989 marked the end of what political scientists have called the ‘Congress system’.
The Congress Party lost the kind of centrality it earlier enjoyed in the party system.
ii. Second, the rise of the ‘Mandal issue’ in national politics. The ‘Mandal issue’ plays
an important role in shaping the Indian politics since 1989.
iii. Third, the initiation of the structural adjustment programme or the new economic
reforms started by Rajiv Gandhi. These reforms radically changed the direction that
the Indian economy had pursued since Independence.
iv. Fourth, the demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya (known as Babri Masjid)
in December 1992. This event intensified debates about the nature of Indian
nationalism and secularism and led to the rise of the BJP and the politics of
‘Hindutva’.
v. Fifth, the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991.

ERA OF COALITIONS

 Elections in 1989 led to the defeat of the Congress party and took the role of the
opposition party.
 The National Front (an alliance of Janata Dal and some other regional parties) received
support from two diametrically opposite political groups: the BJP and the Left Front and
formed a coalition government.
 No single party secured a clear majority of seats in any Lok Sabha election held since
1989.

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  This development initiated an era of coalition governments at the Centre, in which
regional parties played a crucial role in forming ruling alliances.

ALLIANCE POLITICS

Central Government since 1989

PERIOD COALITION/ PARTIES IN GOVT

Dec 1989 - Nov 1990 National Front supported by Left Front and
BJP. (PM: VP Singh)
Nov 1990 – June 1991 Section of National Front led by Samajwadi
Janata Party supported by Congress. (PM:
Chandrashekhar Ajad)
June 1991 – May 1996 Congress supported by AIADMK and some
smaller parties. (PM: Narashinha Rao)
May 1996 – June 1996 BJP minority govt. (PM: Vajpaye)
June 1996 – April 1997 United Front with Congress support. (PM: HD
Dev Gowda)
April 1997 – March 1998 United Front with Congress support. (PM: IK
Gujral)
March 1998 – Oct 1999, Oct 1999 – May 2004 National Democratic Alliance led by BJP (PM:
Vajpaye)
May 2004 – May 2009 United Progressive Alliance (UPA, PM:
Manmohan Singh)
May 2009 – May 2014 UPA (PM: Manmohan Singh)
May 2014 – May 2019 BJP’s National Democratic Alliance (PM:
Narendra Modi)
May 2019 onwards BJP’s National Democratic Alliance (PM:
Narendra Modi)

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POLITICAL RISE OF OTHER BACKWARD CLASSES

 With the decline of support for the Congress party from many sections of the backward
castes, a space for the growth of non-Congress parties that drew more support from these
communities was created.
 The Janata Party government in 1977-79 strongly raised the demand for reservations for
backward castes in north India and at the national level.
 Reservations for the OBC were in existence in southern States since the 1960s.
 The decision of the National Front Government to implement the recommendation of the
Mandal Commission helped in shaping the politics of ‘Other Backward Classes’.
 The debate around reservation for OBC made the people from the OBC communities
more aware of their identity. Many political parties emerged that sought better
opportunities for OBCs in education and employment and also raised the question of the
share of power enjoyed by the OBCs.
 These parties claimed that since OBCs constituted a large segment of Indian society, it
was only democratic that the OBCs should get adequate representation in administration
and have their due share of political power.
 The movement for the demand of reservation for OBC began when Karpoori Thakur, the
then Chief Minister of Bihar, introduced a new policy of reservations for OBCs in Bihar.
 Following this, the central government appointed a Commission in 1978 to look into and
recommend ways to improve the conditions of the backward classes.
 This commission is known as the Mandal Commission, after the name of its Chairperson,
Bindeshwari Prasad Mandal.
 This was the second time since Independence that the government had appointed such a
commission. Therefore, this commission was also known as the Second Backward
Classes Commission.
 The Mandal Commission was set up to investigate the extent of educational and social
backwardness among various sections of Indian society and recommend ways of
identifying these ‘backward classes’.
 The Commission gave its recommendations in 1980.

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  It recommended 27 per cent reservation of seats in educational institutions and
government jobs for the OBC.
 And also made many other recommendations, like, land reform, to improve the
conditions of the OBCs.
 The decision of the National Front Govt in Aug 1990 to implement the recommendations
of Mandal Commission sparked agitations and violent protests in many cities of north
India. The decision was also challenged in the Supreme Court and came to be known as
the ‘Indira Sawhney case’, after the name of one of the petitioners.
 In November 1992, the Supreme Court gave a ruling upholding the decision of the
government.

POLITICAL FALLOUTS

 The 1980s also saw the rise of political organisation of the Dalits.
 In 1978 the Backward and Minority Classes Employees Federation (BAMCEF) was
formed.
 It took a strong position in favour of political power to the Bahujan –the SC, ST and the
OBC and minorities.
 It was out of this that the Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti and later the Bahujan
Samaj Party (BSP) emerged under the leadership of Kanshi Ram.
 The 1989 and the 1991 elections achieved a breakthrough in Indian politics as for the first
time in independent India a political party supported mainly by Dalit voters had achieved
success.

COMMUNALISM, SECULARISM AND DEMOCRACY

 After the fall of the Janata Party and its break-up, the supporters of erstwhile Jana Sangh
formed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1980.
 Initially, the BJP adopted a broader political platform and embraced ‘Gandhian
Socialism’ as its ideology. But it did not get much success in the elections held in 1980
and 1984.
 After 1986, the party began to emphasise the Hindu nationalist element in its ideology
and pursued the politics of ‘Hindutva’.

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  Hindutva literally means ‘Hinduness’ and was defined by its originator, V. D. Savarkar,
as the basis of Indian nationhood. It basically meant that to be members of the Indian
nation, everyone must not only accept India as their ‘fatherland’ (pitrubhu) but also as
their holy land (punyabhu). Believers of ‘Hindutva’ argue that a strong nation can be
built only on the basis of a strong and united national culture. They also believe that in
the case of India the Hindu culture alone can provide this base.
 Two developments around 1986 became central to the politics of BJP as a ‘Hindutva’
party. The first was the Shah Bano case in 1985 and the second was the Ayodhya dispute.

SHAH BANO CASE

 A 62-year old divorced Muslim woman, filed a case for maintenance from her former
husband.
 The Supreme Court ruled in her favour.
 Seeing the Supreme Court’s order as an interference in Muslim Personal Law, some
orthodox Muslim leaders demanded the government to pass the Muslim Women
(Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986.
 This nullified the Supreme Court’s judgment.
 The BJP criticized this action of the Congress government as an unnecessary concession
and ‘appeasement’ of the minority community and discriminatory to non-Muslim men
and saw it as a violation of the sanctity of the country's highest court.

AYODHYA DISPUTE

 The Babri Masjid was a 16th Century mosque in Ayodhya and was built by Mir Baqi-
Mughal emperor Babur’s General.
 Some Hindus believe that it was built after demolishing a temple for Lord Rama in what
is believed to be his birthplace.
 The dispute took the form of a court case and has continued for many decades.
 In the late 1940s the mosque was locked up as the matter was with the court.
 In Feb 1986 the Faizabad district court ordered that the Babri Masjid premises be
unlocked so that Hindus could offer prayers at the site which they considered as a temple.

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  As soon as the locks of the Babri Masjid were opened, mobilization began on both side-
Hindu and Muslim.
 The BJP made this issue its major electoral and political plank. The BJP, in order to
generate public support, took out a massive march called the Rathyatra from Somnath in
Gujarat to Ayodhya in UP.

DEMOLITION AND AFTER

 In December 1992, the organisations supporting the construction of the temple had
organised a Karseva, meaning voluntary service by the devotees, for building the Ram
temple.
 Thousands of people gathered from all over the country at Ayodhya on 6 December 1992
and demolished the mosque. This news led to clashes between the Hindus and Muslims
in many parts of the country.
 The events at Ayodhya led to a series of other developments. The State government, with
the BJP as the ruling party, was dismissed by the Centre.
 President Rule (Art 356) was imposed in other States where the BJP was in power.
 A case against the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh was registered in the Supreme Court
for contempt of court since he had given an undertaking that the disputed structure will
be protected.
 The central government appointed a commission to investigate into the circumstances
leading to the demolition of the mosque.
 The demolition led to a serious debate over secularism.

ANTI MUSLIM RIOTS IN GUJARAT

 In February-March 2002, large-scale violence against Muslims took place in Gujarat.

 The incident occurred when a bogey of a train that was returning from Ayodhya and was
full of Karsevaks was set on fire.
 Suspecting the hand of the Muslims in setting fire to the bogey, large-scale violence
against Muslims began in many parts of Gujarat from the next day.
 This violence continued for almost a whole month and many Muslims were killed in this
violence.

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  The National Human Rights Commission criticised the Gujarat government’s role in
failing to control violence, provide relief to the victims and prosecute the perpetrators of
this violence.

EMERGENCE OF NEW CONSENSUS

 The period after 1989 is seen sometimes as the period of decline of Congress and rise of
BJP.
 In the midst of severe competition and many conflicts, a consensus appears to have
emerged among most parties. This consensus consists of four elements.
i. Agreement on New Economic Policy
ii. Acceptance of the political and social claims of the Backward Castes.
iii. Acceptance of the role of State level parties in governance of the country.
iv. Emphasis on pragmatic considerations rather than ideological positions and
political alliances without ideological agreement.

QUESTIONS

1. The reason for 2002 Gujarat riot is:

a) Earthquake relief was not provided by the Centre.
b) A bogey of a train returning from Ayodhya carrying Karsevaks was set on fire.
c) Demolition of Babri Masjid
d) State emergency
2. The members of the Parliamentary Committee:
a) Are appointed by the President in consultation with the Prime Minister.
b) Are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Speaker.
c) Are taken from various groups and parties in parliament in proportion to their
respective strength.
d) Both (b) and (c)
3. Which of the following committee is not made for day to day business of the House?
a) Business Advisory Committee
b) Committee of Private members bill

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 c) Rules Committee
d) Ad hoc committee
4. In which year did Sikkim became a part of India?
a) 1972
b) 1975
c) 1977
d) 1980
5. In which year was Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassinated?
a) 1989
b) 1990
c) 1991
d) 1992
6. Which of the following statements is not correct about Public Account Committee?
a) Public Account Committee is made as per the provision of Government of India Act,
1919.
b) This Committee consists of members from both the house of the Parliament.
c) Term of the members of the Committee is 5 years.
d) A minister cannot be a member of the Committee.
7. BJP is a rebirth of which of the following political party?
a) Bharatiya Jana Sangh
b) Bahujan Samaj Part
c) Samajwadi Party
d) Shiv Sena
8. The recommendations of the Mandal Commission were implemented in the year:
a) 1990
b) 1991
c) 1992
d) 1993
9. The Union Public Service Commission of India has been established under the Article:
a) Article 122
b) Article 178

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 c) Article 272
d) Article 315
10. The Parliament of India cannot be regarded as a sovereign body because:
a) It can legislate only on subjects entrusted to the Centre by the Constitution.
b) It has to operate within the limits prescribed by the Constitution.
c) The Supreme Court can declare laws passed by Parliament.
d) All of the above
11. Which of the following Committee enforces code of conduct of members of Parliament?
a) Ethics Committee
b) House Committee
c) Committee of privileges
d) Ad hoc Committee
12. Who was the Chairperson of Mandal Commission/
a) Bindeshwari Prasad Mandal
b) Nandeshwari Prasad Mandal
c) Chandeshwari Prasad Mandal
d) None of the above
13. The President addresses both the Houses of Parliament assembled together:
a) During emergency session summoned for the purpose.
b) Every session
c) First session after each general election and the first session of each year
d) Any session
14. The President can dismiss a member of the Council of Miniaters:
a) On his own
b) On the recommendation of the Prime Minister.
c) Only under Emergency condition.
d) With the consent of the speaker.
15. The National Human Rights Commission is formed in the year:
a) 1990
b) 1993
c) 1995

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 d) 1997
16. The function of the ……………committee is to examine the estimates included in the
budget and suggests economies in public expenditure.
a) Public Accounts Committee
b) Rules Committee
c) Estimate Committee
d) Ethics Committee
17. Elections in………………led an era of coalitions with the defeat of Congress Party.
a) 1988
b) 1989
c) 1990
d) 1991
18. The power to decide an election petition is vested in the:
a) Parliament
b) Supreme Court
c) High Courts
d) Election Commission
19. Which of the following statements is wrong with regard to Parliamentary Committee/
a) Parliamentary Committee is appointed/ elected by the speaker/ chairman.
b) Works under the guidance of speaker/ chairman.
c) Has a secretariat provided by the President of India.
d) Submits its report to house or speaker/ chairman.
20. The President can advance money to meet unforeseen expenses, pending authorization by
Parliament, from:
a) The Consolidated Fund of India
b) The Contingency Fund
c) Both the above funds
d) None of the above
21. The pension of a High Court Judge is charged to the:
a) Consolidated Fund of India
b) Consolidated Fund of the state where he last served.

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 c) Consolidated Funds of the different states where he has served.
d) Contingency Fund of India.
22. Which political Party was joined by B.P. Mandal in 1977?
a) Bahujan Samaj Party
b) Rashtriya Swamsewak Sangh
c) Congress Party
d) Janata Party
23. The single largest party in the 1996 parliamentary elections was:
a) BJP
b) Janata Dal
c) CPI
d) Congress
24. Who headed the Central Government in India after the 1998 parliamentary elections?
a) Atal Bihari Vajpaye
b) P.V. Narshimha Rao
c) H.D. Deve Gowda
d) I.K. Gujral
25. Which party pursued the politics of Hindutva and adopted the strategy of mobilizing the
Hindus?
a) BJP
b) Congress
c) CPI
d) Bahujan Samaj Party
26. The recommendation of the Mandal Commission was adopted in the year:
a) 1990
b) 1991
c) 1992
d) 1993
27. In February and March 2002, large scale violence against Muslims took place in:
a) Rajasthan
b) Gujarat

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 c) Punjab
d) Uttar Pradesh
28. The General Election of 2004 resulted in:
a) Dominance of congress
b) Coalition government
c) Convincing victory of BJP
d) Emergence of Akali Dal
29. The political developments after the 1990s reveals the emergence of:
a) Coalition government
b) Consolidation of BJP
c) Congress dominance
d) Regional politics
30. Which alliance formed the government at the Centre in 1989?
a) National Front
b) United Front
c) Super Front
d) Real Front

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