How Many Regional Parties in India

Introduction

The most recent release from the Election Commission of India, dated September 23, 2021, includes 2858 registered parties, including 54 state parties, 9 national parties, and 2796 unrecognised parties.

The distinguishing symbols that are granted to parties that are recognised as such by the government are only to be used by its candidates. The Indian Election Commission recognises the parties as a result of their receipt of these advantages and other special services. For this reason, these parties are referred to as recognised parties.

Multiple regional parties are a key component of the Indian political system. They currently have a significant influence on politics in India at the local, state, and federal levels. Based on objective standards, the Election Commission of India (ECI) recognises political parties at the federal and state levels.

A recognised political party is entitled to benefits such as a reserved party emblem, unrestricted airtime on state-run television and radio, consultation in the selection of election dates, and influence in the formulation of electoral laws and norms. The Election Commission of India requires other political parties to register before they may run in municipal, state, or national elections.

After a Lok Sabha or State legislative assembly election, Registered Parties are elevated by the ECI to Recognised National Parties or State Parties provided they satisfy the necessary requirements. The ECI periodically evaluates the status of Recognised Parties.

A political party would lose its status as a recognised Party prior to the change in 2016 (which went into effect on 1 January 2014) if it didn't fulfil the qualifications in the subsequent Lok Sabha or state legislative assembly election. A review will now take place every two elections, as opposed to immediately following each election, as the ECI announced in 2016.

Therefore, a political party should keep its status as a recognised Party even if it does not meet the qualifications in the upcoming election. If they didn't meet the conditions in the election that followed the following one, they would, however, lose their status.

Features of Regional Parties in India

The characteristics of an Indian Regional Party are as follows:

• It normally operates in a certain region or state. Its electoral base is limited to one region.

• It identifies with a certain racial, ethnic, cultural, or linguistic group and displays local interests.

• Its major objectives are to use local resources of unhappiness or to preserve distinct primordial requirements depending on language, caste, group, or place.

• It focuses on neighbourhood or local issues while attempting to influence state politics. It has no intention of bolstering and seizing control of the federal government.

• Its political goal is to give the states of the Indian Union more regional autonomy.

Classification of Regional Parties in India

The many regional parties in India fall into the following categories:

• Those local political organisations centred on ethnicity and culture. They include the Mizo National Front, the National Conference, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Telugu Desam, Shiv Sena, Asom Gana Parishad, the Shiromani Akali Dal, and others.

• Those regional parties with an all-Indian viewpoint but little national electoral support. The Indian National Lok Dal, Revolutionary Socialist Party, Samajwadi Party, All-India Forward Bloc, and National Congress Party are a few examples.

• Those local parties developed as a result of a national party split. For instance, the Telangana Praja Samithi, Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party, Bangla Congress, Trinamool Congress, and so on.

Rise of Regional Parties

There are several factors that have contributed to the rise of regional parties in India. Some of them are as follows:

• Ethnic and cultural variety in Indian society.

• Economic disparities and uneven regional development

• Due to historical causes, a sizable portion of the people wishes to maintain their independence. This is for the benefit of the deposed Maharajas and displaced Zamindars as well as for regional objectives that are not served by national politics.

• Linguistic-based reorganisation of the state

• The local officials' charismatic personalities

• Internal conflicts within the larger party

• The tendency of the Congress party to grow more centralised

• At the federal level, there is no substantial opposition party.

• Tribal tribes are estranged from one another and dissatisfied as a result of caste and religious dominance in politics.

Role to do Regional Parties in Politics

The information below highlights the role the Regional Parties have played in India:

• They provide enhanced governance and reliable leadership at the regional level.

• They pose a danger to the country's dominant one-party system and have diminished the one-party's influence.

• They significantly affect the nature and progression of centre-state interactions. Due to the areas of tension in centre-state relations and the desire for increased autonomy, the central leadership is more responsive to the demands of the regional stakeholders.

• They intensify political rivalry and broad citizen participation at the local level.

• They provide voters with greater choices in both the assembly and parliamentary elections. The electorate may support the party that works to improve the interests of the state or region.

• They increase people's interest in politics and political consciousness. They draw attention to regional or local issues that immediately engage the audience.

• They provide a defence against the totalitarian inclinations of the central authority. They put the dominant party under pressure to change its stance on particular issues and choose a more agreeable conflict resolution method.

• They were successful in revealing the Governors' partisan involvement in the Chief Minister's appointment and removal, the issuance of ordinances, and the holding of measures for the President's approval.

• Regional parties now play a significant role in national politics since the advent of coalition politics. They once more joined the centrally created coalition administrations and shared power with the national parties.

National Parties

Only if a registered party satisfies one of the three requirements given below is it recognised as a national party:

In the Lok Sabha, the party won 2% of the seats from at least three distinct states.

The party receives 6% of the vote in four or more states during a general election for the Lok Sabha or Legislative Assembly, and it also wins four Lok Sabha seats.

Examples:-

• Bharatiya Janata Party

• Aam Aadmi Party

• Indian National Congress

• Communist Party of India

• All India Trinamool Congress

• Bahujan samaj party

• Nationalist Congress Party

• National People's Party

State Parties

Only if a registered party satisfies one of the five requirements stated below is it recognised as a state party:

In order to gain at least two seats in the state legislative assembly, a party must receive at least 6% of the valid votes cast in the election.

In order to win at least one seat in the Lok Sabha, a party must receive at least 6% of the valid votes cast in the election. A party must gain at least three seats in the Legislative Assembly or 3% of the total number of seats, whichever is higher.

Examples:

• Janata dal (secular)

• Naga people's front

• Rashtriya Janata Dal

• Janata dal (United)

• Telugu Desam Party

• Revolutionary socialist party

• Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

• All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

• YSR Congress Party

• Hill State People's Democratic Party

• Jammu & Kashmir National Conference

• Janta Congress Chhattisgarh

• Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party

• Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party

Unrecognised Parties

• Jana Sena Party

• TelanganaParam Digvijay Dal

• Hindustan Congress Party

• RajasthanJan Adhikar Party Loktantrik

• Uttar PradeshJan Shakti Party of India

• Morcha

• Ram Manjhi Bihar Apna Dal

• Goa Suraksha Manch

• VelingkarGoaNISHAD Party

• Swaraj India

• Maharashtra All India Mahila Empowerment Party

• KarnatakaAmma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam

• Jansatta Dal Loktantrik

• Loktantrik Janata Dal

Conclusion

In conclusion, regional parties play a significant role in the political landscape of India. They represent the aspirations and interests of people from various regions, communities, and linguistic groups. These parties have been successful in securing political power and shaping the political discourse in their respective regions. They have also played a crucial role in national politics, by aligning with national parties and participating in national-level coalitions. Regional parties have brought regional issues to the forefront of the political agenda, and have often influenced policy decisions and the allocation of resources by the central government. The success of regional parties in India highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing the diversity of India's sociocultural and linguistic landscape.