Key Indian Political Formulations


National Democratic Alliance: The NDA was formed in 1998, as the BJP made its second attempt to form a national government. The BJP was forced to put Hindu nationalism on the backburner, as the common program drawn up with allies was more based on where to steer India economically and internationally, as well as a strong anti-Congress sentiment among many of the constituents. The alliance still remains largely to the right, advocating more hard-line foreign policy and less government interference in enterprises. After snap elections in 1999, the coalition came back more powerful than before, and led until 2004.
  • Bharatiya Janata Party - Core of the party. Traditional vote banks include: Hindu, Upper-Caste, Urban, Middle/High-Class. Has consolidated its position in India's heartland with a string of state governments running from Rajasthan to Orissa, but has been growing in non-traditional areas, well. 138 Seats.
  • Shiv Sena - Often seen as a more right-wing, conservative Hindu/Marathi party which is the BJP partner in Maharashtra, where the two parties formed a government together in the 1990's. Popular in the Mumbai zone. 12 Seats.
  • Biju Janata Dal - Partner in Orissa. Similar foundation as the BJP. Broke away from its parent party (Janata Dal) and the two have a strong partnership which has ruled the state since 2000, and saw re-election in 2004. 11 Seats.
  • Shiromani Akali Dal - Partner in Punjab, banks heavily on the Sikh vote. Although the alliance is not in power in the state, its victory in the state's LS seats proved a strong anti-incumbency sentiment against the INC government. 8 Seats.
  • Telugu Desam Party - Partner in Andhra Pradesh. Strong friendship based on similar development goals, which focus on urban development and industrialization. The TDP was part of the United Front, but finally decided to join the NDA alliance in 1998. The government was voted out of power in the state in 2004, after 10 years. Officially, the TDP gave outside support to the NDA government. 5 Seats.
  • Janata Dal (United) - Has contested seats all over India, but primarily the BJP's weapon in Bihar. Strong ally of the BJP, and held the defense ministry under George Fernandes. A product of the original Janata Dal, which has been split into various factions, and the Samata Party. 7 Seats.
  • All-India Trinamool Congress - Breakaway faction of the Congress in West Bengal. The coalition managed impressive Lok Sabha results in 1999 in Communist-dominated Bengal. 2 Seats.
  • Northeast People's Front and Mizo National Front are two allies of the BJP in Nagaland and Mizoram, where they hold the governments. 1 Seat Each.

    NDA States: Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Orissa, Mizoram, Nagaland, Chattisgarh. Lost Arunachal Pradesh in 2004; Lost Andhra Pradesh in 2004; BJP Emerged as largest party in Karnataka in 2004 elections; Situation in Goa and Bihar is yet unclear, with President's Rule in both.

    United Progressive Alliance: For the first time ever, the Congress party was willing to play coalition politics at the center after the 2004 elections. The coalition's agenda remains centrist-leaning-socialist, focusing heavily on the poor, lower castes, religious minorities (Muslims & Christians), the rural population, and so forth. The alliance is totally dependent on the support of the Left parties to stay in power, and has had to modify its policies to keep them happy, although those parties only extend outside support.
  • Indian National Congress - Staple of the Alliance and the party that has ruled India for most of its history. It was willing, for the first time, to stand as the center of a national coalition after the 2004 Lok Sabha Elections. It has seen its power base eroded by other political factions over the years: Leftist parties, The BJP and Regional Parties. 145 Seats.
  • Rashtriya Janata Dal - Socialist party which bases its support on lower castes and Muslims in Bihar, a state which it has led since 1990. It has the notorious reputation for making Bihar the most lawless and undeveloped state in the nation. It has also emerged as a key player in the state of Jharkhand. 24 Seats.
  • DMK, PMK, MDMK - The three parties left the NDA before 2004 Lok Sabha elections, because the BJP had failed to speak against abuse of the DMK's leader in the Tamil Nadu state government. The combine swept all of Tamil Nadu's 40 Lok Sabha seats. 26 Seats.
  • Lok Janshakti Party - A breakaway faction of the Janata Dal (United) which has a base of low-caste support in Bihar. It originally formed part of the NDA government, but walked out of it over differences. 3 Seats.
  • Nationalist Congress Party - A breakaway faction which formed in the 1980's, it is now the party's Maharashtra partner. The NCP has also grown in popularity in various Northeast states. 9 Seats.
  • Telangana Rashtra Samithi - Congress' Andhra Pradesh partner, which demands a separate Tenegana state. The Congress formed a government in the state without TRS support. 5 Seats.
  • Jharkhand Mukti Morcha - Congress' Jharkhand partner. Along with the RJD, the 3 swept almost all of the state's Lok Sabha seats. 5 Seats.
  • Republican Party of India - Socialist-base part, primarily in Maharasthra. 1 Seat.
  • Indian Union Muslim League - Religious Party. 1 Seat.
  • People's Democratic Party - Jammu & Kashmir Alliance partner. 1 Seats. UPA States: Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Delhi, Maharasthra; Situation in Goa and Bihar unclear.
    Left Front and Others: The Leftist movement emerged in the 1960's and 1970's, and since they have only grown more powerful, although in only 3 states they have formed governments. The support of the Left Front is key for the current government to stay in power. As many Communist leaders have put it, the Congress does not deviate from the BJP's economic liberalization policies, but its centrist agenda is more appealing to the Leftists. Still, they have never been willing to ally with the Congress, especially on a state level. They will have nothing to do with the BJP, and have made some tie-up's with left-leaning regional partners. The Left Front vehemently opposes economic liberalization, and prefers a focus on socialization to improve education, healthcare, promote economic equality, eliminate communalism/casteism and keep India from being 'invaded' by foreign interests.
  • Communist Party of India-Marxist - Upper-hand in Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura, and scattered seats in other states. 43 Seats.
  • Communist Party of India - Less popular than the CPM but plays second fiddle in the aforementioned states. 10 Seats.
  • All-India Forward Bloc - Small, socialist player. 3 Seats.
  • Revolutionary Socialist Party - Small, extreme left player. 3 Seats.
    States: West Bengal, Tripura
  • Samajwadi Party - The Samajwadi Party has emerged as the strongest political party in Uttar Pradesh, consolidating a base among Muslim-lower caste voters in the state. Its leadership has traditionally identified most with the Left parties and their policies, and keeps equidistance from the Congress and the BJP, although it has made unofficial arrangements with both at some point in time or the other. 36 Seats.
    States: Uttar Pradesh
  • Bahujan Samaj Party - Primarily confined to Uttar Pradesh. Appeals to lower castes and has seen its power grow since its creation. It is now even attempting to appeal to Muslims and higher-castes, and has been fielding candidates for state elections all over, winning a few seats in every state, but strengthening its vote bank. It has tied up with the BJP in the past, as part of the NDA government, and to form a state government in Uttar Pradesh, but both formulations fell. 19 Seats.
  • AIADMK - Dravidian Party confined to Tamil Nadu. Has been with both the Congress and BJP in the past. Contested the 2004 Lok Sabha elections with the BJP unsuccessfully. 'Friendly' status with the NDA was destroyed when the state government arrested a controversial religious figure. 0 Seats.
    States: Tamil Nadu
  • Jammu & Kashmir National Conference - Powerful Kashmir state political party. Held that state government from 1975-2002, except for a 6-year President's Rule in the early 1990's. It was originally part of the NDA, but withdrew amidst difficulties. It contested the 2004 Lok Sabha Elections on its own, but made arrangements with the BJP for local elections in 2005. Future plans are unknown. 2 Seats.
  • Janata Dal (Secular) - Breakaway faction of the Janata Dal which has is virtually confined to Karnataka. It is the closest faction to the original Janata Dal, which headed the United Front Governments in 1996-1997. It has formed several state governments in Karnataka, and is currently in a coalition with the Congress (only in the state). 4 Seats.
  • Indian National Lok Dal - Haryana-based party. Was part of the NDA government at the center and aligned with the BJP to form state government, but both arrangements fell apart in 2004, before LS Elections.
  • Asom Gana Parishad - Assam party. Was 'part' of the NDA regardless of having won no Lok Sabha seats. Both parties tied up for state elections in 2001 unsuccessfully, and the BJP went on its own in 2004 elections. The parties may tie back up for 2006 state elections.