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Famous Mortimer
WillipsBrighton
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« on: April 23, 2014, 11:48:48 PM »
« edited: April 27, 2014, 11:11:29 PM by WillipsBrighton »

I've been wanting to do a thread where I profile Indian political parties for a long time. I want to do it separate from the 2014 election thread because I figure it would just get lost in there. Plus I figure such a thread might be helpful for people to refer back to, since reading about Indian politics can seem like staring into a can of alphabet soup a lot of times.

I'm sure my summaries will be way over simplified and I look forward to being mercilessly criticized by jaichind. So here goes.


Parties recognized by the Election Commission of India as National Parties:

Indian National Congress: Big tent centre-left party consisting of social democrats, secular neo-liberals, and people affiliated with various local patronage machines.

Bharatiya Janata Party: Indian People's Party. Big tent centre-right party consisting of Hindu Nationalists and Western style conservatives.

Communist Party of India (Marxist): Maoist party. Currently ruling in Tripura and the main opposition in West Bengal and Kerala.

Communist Party of India: Soviet line Communist party. Almost always in an alliance with the CPI(M) as part of the Left Front.

Nationalist Congress Party: Splintered from Congress because they opposed Sonia Gandhi's leadership based on her foreign birth. Nevertheless, they continue to align with the Sonia Gandhi led Congress almost always, except in Kerala where they're part of the Left Front.

Bahujan Samaj Party: Majority Society Party. Party targeting lower Caste voters. Vaguely left-wing. Has made alliances with Congress, the BJP, and the Left Front but is currently non-aligned. One of two main parties in Uttar Pradesh, currently in opposition.


Important state parties:

Telugu Desam Party: Telugu Lands Party. Party advocating for Telugu speakers. Currently the main opposition in soon to be split Andhra Pradesh. Currently aligned with the BJP.

Telangana Rashtra Samithi: Telangana National Committee. Another party for Telugu speakers.

YSR Congress: Splinter of Congress in Andhra Pradesh lead by the son of former Chief Minister YSR.

All India United Democratic Front: Currently the main opposition party in Assam. Opposed to Congress on the state level.

Asom Gana Parishad: Assam People's Assembly. Former ruling party in Assam. Developed out of an anti-immigration movement. Aligned with the BJP.

Janata Dal (United): People's League (United). Fake socialist party which currently rules Bihar. Was almost always aligned with the BJP up until they nominated Modi, which was too much even for JD(U). Split from the original Janata Dal, which was national opposition party in the late 80s/early 90s.

Rashtriya Janata Dal: National People's League. Main opposition party in Bihar. Another splinter from the original Janata Dal led by corrupt former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. Currently aligned with Congress.

Lok Janshakti Party: People's People Power Party? Third force party in Bihar. Split from Janata Dal (United) over their alliance with the BJP but now in an alliance with the BJP themselves. Popular among lower Caste voters and Muslims.

Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party: Unsure of translation. Former ruling party in Goa.

Indian National Lok Dal: Indian National People's League. Main opposition party in Haryana. Opposed to Congress on state level. Another splinter from Janata Dal.

Jammu & Kashmir National Conference: Current ruling party in Jammu & Kashmir. Pro-autonomy. Currently aligned with Congress.

Jammu & Kashmir People's Democratic Party: Main opposition party in Jammu & Kashmir. Pro-"self rule" which is apparently a step further than autonomy. Supported by separatists who actually vote. Started as a splinter from Congress.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha: Jharkhand Liberation Front. Current ruling party in Jharkhand. Previously aligned with BJP. Currently aligned with Congress.

Janata Dal (Secular): People's League (Secular). Former ruling party in Karnataka. Currently third largest in that state behind BJP and Congress. Another splinter from original Janata Dal. Broke with Janata Dal (United) over their alliance with the BJP. JD(U) are more left-wing and more opportunistic. They have formed alliances with both the BJP and Congress. They tend to remain unaligned during campaigns.

Shiv Sena: Shivaji's Army. Extreme Hindu Nationalist party. Former ruling party in Maharashtra. Most constant ally of the BJP.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena: Unsure of translation. Splinter of Shiv Sena led by current Shiv Sena leader's cousin.

Naga People's Front: Current ruling party in Nagaland. Aligned with BJP.

United Democratic Party: Main opposition party in Meghalaya. Opposed to Congress on the state level.

Mizo National Front: Main opposition in Mizoram. Opposed to Congress on the state level.

Aam Aadmi Party: Common Man Party. Anti-corruption party which briefly ruled Delhi in an anti-BJP alliance with Congress. Trying to go national.

Biju Janata Dal: Biju People's League. Ruling party in Odisha. Another splinter of Janata Dal. Named after its founder Biju Patnaik, whose son is its current leader. Currently in an alliance with the BJP against Congress on the state level.

All India N.R. Congress: Splinter of Congress which rules the territory of Puducherry. Named for its leader, Chief Minister N. Rangaswamy. Currently aligned with the BJP.

Shiromani Akali Dal: Supreme Divine League. Sikh theocratic party which currently rules Punjab. Aligned with BJP.

Sikkim Democratic Front: Ruling party in Sikkim. Opposed to Congress on the state level.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam: Dravidian Progressive Federation. Former ruling party in Tamil Nadu. Traditionally either the first or second largest party on the state level, although it's been pushed into third. Their main ideology is corruption. They have aligned with both Congress and the BJP in the past, although more often with Congress. Currently unaligned.

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam: Splinter from the above mentioned DMK. Currently the ruling party. Not as corrupt but more authoritarian. Has been aligned with both Congress and the BJP, although more often the BJP. Currently unaligned.

Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam: National Progressive Dravidian Federation. New Dravidian Party. Currently the second largest. Unsure what separates it from the DMK and the AIADMK. It is currently aligned with the BJP.

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam: Revival Dravidian Progressive Federation. Another Dravidian party in Tamil Nadu. Again, unsure what makes it different than the another ones. It was apparently the most vocal in its support of the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka. Currently aligned with the BJP.

Pattali Makkal Katchi: Proletarian Mass Party. A party in Tamil Nadu targeting lower Caste voters. Currently aligned with the BJP.

Samajwadi Party: Socialist Party. Current ruling party in Uttar Pradesh although it has some national presence as well. Another splinter from Janata Dal. Currently unaligned but friendly with the Left Front. Has supported Congress in the past.

Rashtriya Lok Dal: National People's League. Minor party in Uttar Pradesh. Was the nucleus of the Janata Party in the late 70s and also took part in the Janata Dal in the 80s/90s. Led by the son of Janata Party Prime Minister Charan Singh. Currently aligned with Congress.

All India Trinamool Congress: All India Grassroots Congress. Splinter of Congress. Currently the ruling party in West Bengal, where it opposes the Left Front. Trying to establish itself nationally.

Oh, also, a couple of other Left Front parties:

Revolutionary Socialist Party: They can give you a very long explanation of why they aren't Trotskyites and they're actually their own special thing but basically they're Trotskyites.

All India Forward Bloc: Party which claims the ideological legacy of Nazi collaborator Subhas Chandra Bose. They nevertheless have a hammer and sickle on their party flag and are aligned with the Communists. Real life social fascists?

There are some others who don't really matter.

How did I do, jaichind?
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MaxQue
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« Reply #1 on: April 23, 2014, 11:51:32 PM »

Perhaps you should add the acronyms to the descriptions so we can use it for quick reference.
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Zuza
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« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2014, 05:22:51 PM »
« Edited: April 24, 2014, 05:28:40 PM by Zuza »

I made some comments and additions that can be helpful for readers (I don't pretend to be a big expert in Indian politics though).
Communist Party of India (Marxist): Maoist party. Currently ruling in Tripura and the main opposition in West Bengal and Kerala.
I wouldn't call them Maoist. Yes, they descended from CPI faction that supported China in 1962 Sino-Indian war but it was long time ago. Since then hardline Maoists split from CPI(M) and formed various minor groups. Now many of them are engaged in Naxalite uprising, and Naxalite leaders denounce CPI(M) no less vehemently than other parliamentary parties.

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They didn't continue, they participated in 1999 elections independently but returned to INC-led coalition very soon.

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To be precise: not all lower Caste voters, but mostly voters from Scheduled Castes (Dalits).

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It should be noted that TRS (as it name intends) is a main proponent of Telangana state while TDP and YSRCP oppose its creation, and currently Telangana issue seems to be by far the most important in Andhra Pradesh.

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But in ongoing general elections BJD is not aligned with BJP. BJD leader Naveen Patnaik holds position of Odisha CM since 2000 and is known as successful and highly popular politician.

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Core of its electorate consists of Yadav caste and Muslims.

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If I understand right, he wasn't fascist (and modern AIFB is not fascist), but he was able to ally with anybody to achieve Indian independence as soon as possible. But still he was a collaborator, so it is interesting how easily Communists ally with his successors.
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Famous Mortimer
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« Reply #3 on: April 24, 2014, 10:49:48 PM »

I'm wondering if there are actually any remaining ideological differences between the CPI(M) and the CPI. They seem to operate as a single party for all intents and purposes.
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Zuza
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« Reply #4 on: April 25, 2014, 07:59:44 PM »

I don't understand why they can't finally merge into a single party.
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jaichind
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« Reply #5 on: April 27, 2014, 09:45:10 PM »

I'm wondering if there are actually any remaining ideological differences between the CPI(M) and the CPI. They seem to operate as a single party for all intents and purposes.

Very well written.  The original reason for CPI and CPM split was the Sino-Soviet split in the Communist world with CPI for USSR and CPM for PRC.  Now that is completely over I really see no reason other than ego why these two parties does not just merge.  In theory CPI allows for alliances with progressive bourgeoisie parties like INC or JD and CPM does not.  But in reality both does it so they should drop this and merge.
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jaichind
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« Reply #6 on: April 27, 2014, 10:00:35 PM »

Some comments on this very well written write-up.

BSP also formed an alliance with SP in the past as well as INC and BJP.  Although BSP had pre-election alliances with SP and INC but never the BJP.

AUDF is mostly an Assam political party that appeals with Muslims.

The history of JD(U) is a bit more complex.  First Samata party split from JD and formed an alliance with BJP in Bihar in 1994.  Then in 1999 JD itself split into JD(U) (pro-NDA) and JD(S) (anti-NDA).  After that Samata party merged into JD(U).  Of course now JD(U) broke with BJP.  So I do not see reasons other than ego that stops JD(U) and JD(S) from merging again. 

Actually INLD originates from the Haryana branch of the LD party which itself split from JP in 1980.  Of course the proto-INLD merged with JD and then split from it again.

I would also add in Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) also known as JVM.    This is a BJP splinter led by a former BJP CM of Jharkhand  Babulal Marandi. JVM used to have alliance with INC but that got dropped when INC went with JMM.   JMM and JVM are rivals of each other and are fighting to be THE Jharkhand regional party.  One thing that is funny about  Babulal Marandi this election cycle is that he recently attacked Modi's record of development saying that if BJP was that great at economic development then how come with Jharkhand under BJP rule for 8 out of the 14 years its has been existence and it is still doing so badly economically.  What he does not mention is that out of the 8 years of BJP rule, 4 of them was with himself as CM.  So he is really attacking his own record with that remark.  I almost fell out of my seat when I read that comment by Babulal Marandi.
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Famous Mortimer
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« Reply #7 on: April 27, 2014, 11:06:35 PM »

Glad I didn't mess up too bad.

I have a couple of follow up questions for you.

1) First, what are the translations of the parties I couldn't find translations for? Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena?

2) What's the deal with the Nationalist Congress Party? Why did they bother to split from Sonia but then run in an alliance with her in most elections? Are they perhaps a fake party set up by Congress itself to take nationalist votes away from the BJP/left votes away from the Left Front?

3) What's the difference between Lok and Janata?

4) What's the difference between the various Dravidian parties? Is there a difference? Or is it just ego?

5) What's the justification of various self proclaimed socialist parties forming alliances with the BJP? I imagine pure opportunism plays the main role. Is there any justification beyond that though? Maybe the BJP isn't as economically right-wing at the state level? Maybe their socialism is feigned kind of like the social democracy of right-wing parties in Brazil, who all claim to be leftists because a right-wing party wouldn't fly in a country with so many poor. Do these parties generally campaign to the left or right of Congress?

6) I was going to ask about the Communist parties but you already answered that.
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Famous Mortimer
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« Reply #8 on: April 27, 2014, 11:08:47 PM »

When I have some more time, I'm going to attempt to write a big post detailing the history of the Janata Party, the Janata Dal, and all the parties that split from them.
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jaichind
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« Reply #9 on: April 28, 2014, 11:17:48 AM »

I am pretty sure Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party stands for Maharashtra Goan Party.  Since Goa was annexed to India, there has been an movement to merge Gao with Maharashtra.  Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party led that movement which was made up of lower caste Hindus.  UGP has opposed it wanting a distinct which is mostly made up of Christians and upper caste Hindus.  UGP has then merged with INC and BJP has mostly taken up the political space of MGP although we find MGP jump ship between UPA and NDA. 
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jaichind
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« Reply #10 on: April 28, 2014, 11:40:14 AM »

As for NCP it really comes down to the political ambitions of Sharad Pawar.  He along with BJP's Advani, and DMK's Karunanidhi are the "old men" of Indian politics.  Sharad always had ambitions to lead INC and had bad relationship with the Gandhis, especially Rajeev Gandhi.  He broke away from INC back in the 1970s and only came back because his political movement was going nowhere.  He tried to become PM back in 1991 after Rajeev's assassination but Sonia Gandhi seems to have sided with the Rao faction.  In 1999 when it was clear that Sonia Gandhi was going to be president of INC it seems like a nightmare for Sharad Pawar who took on the foreigner cause to try to stop it.  When that failed he created NCP.  In 1999 Maharashtra assembly elections, the NCP and INC fought separately and as a result neither was able to get a majority even though the BJP-SS was beaten.  So out of political compulsions INC and NCP formed an alliance which lasted ever since.  I suspect once Shard Pawar retires from politics NCP will merge with INC.  NCP used to have a Northeastern faction led by Sangma which was more pro-NDA but Sangma has since formed his own party NPP which now is part of NDA so the eventual INC NCP merge should have no issues.
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jaichind
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« Reply #11 on: April 28, 2014, 11:43:07 AM »

I think Lok is Popular and Janata is People although I am not 100% about that.  BTW, when you see LD (Lok Dal) in any party's name, like INLD and RLD, the word LD should translate into, from a practical point of view, Jats.  RLD and INLD these days are Jat outfits.  Charan Singh who help found the JP and then split it to create LD was a Jat himself and what remains of his political movement are based on Jat farmers although his movement never advance into Punjab where there are a lot of Sikh Jats who in turn follow SAD.
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« Reply #12 on: April 28, 2014, 11:56:28 AM »

My understanding is that "lok" is slightly more abstract, but they're synonymous.
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jaichind
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« Reply #13 on: April 28, 2014, 12:36:29 PM »

As for Dravidian parties, it is one of those things that came full circle.  First we had DK which was mostly an atheist movement to fight against the Hindu caste system and  Brahmin domination.  DMK split from and displaced DK which was more focused on Tamil Nadu independence although still mouthing the atheist anti-Brahmin line.  DMK came to power as it toned down the independence line and kept itself in power mostly through populist schemes to help the lower castes.  AIADMK split from DMK mostly due to rivalries between MG Ramachandran (MGR) and Karunanidhi.  Note that Karunanidhi was a screenwriter and MGR was an actor.  The DMK and AIADMK political discourse was based on the cinema which projected their parties as a defender of the poor and their government bring material well being to the poor.  AIADMK vs DMK really then became competitive populism based on personality cult.  Not much difference between AIADMK and DMK as INC would take turns taking them on as allies.  DMK, later on in order to distinguish itself also latched on the the Sri Lanka LTTE struggle as a way to appeal to Tamil nationalism.  MDMK split from DMK because of this as MDMK felt that DMK was not extreme enough in their defense of Sri Lanka Tamils.  What is funny about the DK anti-Brahman roots that the leader of AIADMK whcih still claims to be the rightful successor of the original DK government is led by Jayalalitha, a Tamil Brahman.  All three parties AIADMK DMK and MDMK all took turns at competitive populism and support for LTTE depending who is in power.  PMK is more of a party for the Vanniyar caste and is for the bifurcation TN so Northern TN could be a state dominated by Vanniyars.  DMDK was merely a me-too party that took on the same platform of AIADMK DMK and MDMK of competitive populism centered around the actor Vijayakanth.  In that sense DMDK follows a very similar path as AIADMK DMK MDMK as a party that sees support by projecting an image of list actor leader with the inference that the hero actions of said actor portrayed in movies will come true when the achieve power.
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jaichind
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« Reply #14 on: April 28, 2014, 04:23:43 PM »

As for various socialist parties that end up supporting BJP (like JD(U), BJD, allowing BJS to merge into JP in 1977, JD tactical alliance with BJP in 1989, JD(S) alliance with BJP in Karnataka, and now LJP), yes, it is mostly opportunism.  But the way these socialists justify it is to first claim that the BJP is under "moderate" leadership like Vajpayee.  Of course that does not work today with Modi at the helm.  Another argument is to talk about the ideas of Ram Manohar Lohia.  Lohia was really the father of the Indian Socialist movement post-independence.  He was with INC but then help from the CSP from which all these socialist parties spring.  He propounded the strategy of Anti-Congressism.  His point was that the INC pretended to be a progressive party when it was controlled by big capital.  But since INC mouthed the words of progressive reform, INC was a much greater danger to the growth of socialism than right-wing parties.  So first INC had to be smashed to remove the delusion of reform within the capitalist system.  To do that alliance with right-wing parties was acceptable.
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jaichind
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« Reply #15 on: April 28, 2014, 04:29:50 PM »

One thing I always found interesting is the power of caste in politics in India.  Take the example of Kerela, where the Communist movement is quite strong as well as having a large number of Christians.  In Kerela, many Christian Churches have different seating arrangement for people of different castes.  So even after conversion to Christianity there is still caste.  Also inside the CPM and CPI one find that they are rife with caste differences with certain castes always holding leadership positions and blocking advancement within the party for certain lower castes.  Both Christianity and Marxism are based on universal ideologies, yet in India caste manage to make its way into these movements.   
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jaichind
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« Reply #16 on: April 28, 2014, 08:28:30 PM »

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena I believe means Maharashtra Reformation Army.  BTW, you define Shiv Sena as an extreme Hindu Nationalist party, then MNS is even more extreme.  MNS adds Northern Indians to Muslims as objects of attack.
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« Reply #17 on: April 28, 2014, 08:44:18 PM »

Thanks for clearing all that stuff up.

In regards to Goa, isn't it odd that upper caste Hindus back Congress and lower caste Hindus back the BJP? Isn't that the opposite of how it is normally?

Across the whole country, what is the caste breakdown in general?
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« Reply #18 on: April 29, 2014, 04:47:04 AM »

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena I believe means Maharashtra Reformation Army.  BTW, if you define Shiv Sena as an extreme Hindu Nationalist party, then MNS is even more extreme.  MNS adds Northern Indians to Muslims as objects of attack.

They are very extreme, but Disliking Northern Indians doesn't make them more anti-Hindu.
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jaichind
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« Reply #19 on: April 29, 2014, 07:18:52 AM »
« Edited: April 29, 2014, 02:53:51 PM by jaichind »

Thanks for clearing all that stuff up.

In regards to Goa, isn't it odd that upper caste Hindus back Congress and lower caste Hindus back the BJP? Isn't that the opposite of how it is normally?

Across the whole country, what is the caste breakdown in general?

Historically the INC coalition has been Upper Castes + Dalits + Muslims + Tribals.  INC has historically been weak with the OBCs which are around 40% of the population.  Only after the Ram  Temple movement in the late 1980s did the Upper Castes drift toward BJP.  At the same time the Dalits drifted toward BSP.  Note that Upper Castes still can and still sometimes do vote INC if they detect that the BJP is taking them for granted by going after OBC.  This is actually why the BJP must stroke up anti-Muslim communal tensions from time to time.  For the BJP to win they need Upper Caste and OBC votes.  But for both to vote BJP at the same time they must vote as Hindus and not as separate castes where Upper Caste-OBC rivalries would prevent them from voting for the same candidate.

As for caste breakdown in India this is a politically explosive question so there has not been a comprehensive count since 1931.  There has been a count for Dalits and Tribals recently.  My estimates are

Upper Caste 18%
OBC              38%
Muslims         14%
Dalits             17%
Tribals             9%

Rest are non-Tribal non-Dalit Christians Sikhs Jains Buddhist etc etc.


Note that by law for one to be counted as a Dalit one has to be Hindu or Sikh.  No such constraint for Tribals as they can be Christians or Hindus. In reality a lot of Dalits are Christians  but report themselves as Hindus so they can retain Dalit status.  Dalits along with Tribals have special reservation quotas for educational and civil service positions.  Dalit Christians do not want to give that up so they still report themselves as Hindu. So even though Christians are 2% of the population (mostly Tribals) in reality the number is a lot higher.  The worst is to be an official Dalit Christian.  From a social point of view they are still looked down upon and they also lose various quotas and benefits from the government.

The trend has been that Muslims and Dalit populations will rise faster relative to the general population so the Muslim and Dalit proportion will rise in the future.  This is why the issue of conversion is such a controversy.  Know that a lot of Dalits are really Christian and Dalit and Muslim population are rising relative to other Hindus poses a threat to the concept of a super majority Hindu India for Hindu nationalists.  There have been laws and movements banning conversion to Islam or Christianity mostly by Dalits or Tribals.  

Also the definition of Dalits seems to be growing as well.  Among OBCs the most backward of them are often labeled as MBC (Most Backward Castes).  Various state governments have lobbied over time to have some of them included in the Scheduled Caste list.  Scheduled Castes is the technical term of Dalits but now seems to include other disadvantaged castes at the bottom of the OBC social hierarchy.  Doing so allows politicians to get the votes of these groups as now they qualify for additional quota help in educational and civil service admissions.
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Filuwaúrdjan
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« Reply #20 on: April 29, 2014, 01:00:53 PM »

This is a great thread.

And let's add to the greatness.
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jaichind
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« Reply #21 on: April 29, 2014, 08:29:29 PM »


Yes.  Also I love this one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Lu_Hitler_Marak
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« Reply #22 on: May 01, 2014, 01:19:05 AM »
« Edited: April 27, 2016, 06:31:00 PM by Famous Mortimer »

Trying to write a history of the Janata Party/Janata Dal but it's proving harder than I thought. Lots of holes in the information I'm able to find. I'll just do my best and hope someone else can fill them.

In 1967, Charan Singh, a Jat opponent of Nehru's Soviet style farming policy, forms the Bharatiya Kranti Dal (Indian Revolutionary League).

Also in 1967, BKD forms an alliance with the Praja Socialist Party (Civic Socialist Party? More or less legitimate socialist party), Samyukta Socialist Party (United Socialist Party, proto-Janata Dal (United) led by George Fernandes) and Bharatiya Jana Sangh (Indian People's Organization, proto-BJP) called Samyukta Vidhayak Dal (United Legislators League) which wins control of several state governments.

In 1974, Bharatiya Kranti Dal, the two socialist parties, the Swatantra Party (Independence Party, free market conservatives), and the Utkal Congress (proto-Biju Janata Dal lead by Biju Patnaik) merge to form a single party called Bharatiya Lok Dal (Indian People's League).

In 1977, Bharatiya Lok Dal merges with Bharatiya Jana Sangh and the anti-Indira rump of the Congress party to form the Janata Party (People's Party), which uses Bharatiya Lok Dal's registration and logo. Congress (Urs), later renamed Congress (Socialist), also joins later on. They win the 1977 election. Morarji Desai, formerly the leader of the anti-Indira faction of Congress, becomes Prime Minister.

The government falls because of the awkward inclusion of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh.

The Janata Party splits into two factions, the Janata Party (Secular) led by Charan Singh and another faction that keeps the same name. I have no idea who is leading them though. Socialist Chandra Shekhar?

Congress agrees to back Charan Singh as PM. I have no idea why though. His faction seems like the more right-wing one/further ideologically from Congress but whatever. They quickly change their mind anyway and Charan Singh is never confirmed by parliament.

In the 1980 elections, the mainstream Janata Party wins twice as many votes as the Janata Party (Secular) but only 31 seats to Janata Party (Secular)'s 41.

Also in 1980, Bharatiya Jana Sangh is relaunched as the Bharatiya Janata Party.

In the 1984 election, Janata Dal, again I'm just assuming under the leadership of Chandra Shekhar, wins the third most votes behind Congress and the BJP. Janata Party (Secular), now again called Lok Dal, comes in 4th. The BJP, Janata Party, and Lok Dal are all beaten in terms of seats by Telugu Desam though.

In 1987, Defense Minister V. P. Singh breaks with Congress over the Bofors scandal and forms Jan Morcha (People's Front).

In 1988, Jan Morcha merges with the Janata Party, Lok Dal, and Congress (Socialist) to from the Janata Dal (People's League), which seeks to carry on the legacy of the original Janata Party.

Janata Dal comes in second in the 1989 elections. Wikipedia confusingly says that the Janata Party and Congress (Socialist) also ran. Congress (Socialist) was actually probably the splinter group Congress (Socialist) - Sarat Chandra Sinha. I have no idea about the Janata Party though.

Anyway, Janata Dal forms an anti-Congress alliance with the BJP and the Left Front. V. P. Singh becomes PM. This government is referred to as the National Front government.

In 1990, Chandra Shekhar breaks away froms Janata Dal and forms the Samajwadi Janata Party (Socialist People's Party). He becomes PM with the support of Congress. At this point, the Samajwadi Janata Party includes factions that would later become the Janata Dal (Secular), the Samajwadi Party, and the Indian National Lok Dal. Shekhar's government falls when Congress withdraws its support, claiming the government was spying on them.

In the 1991 elections, Janata Dal comes in third in terms of votes and seats. The Janata Party (again, I'm totally guessing, under the leadership of Chandra Shekha) and the Lok Dal reestablish themselves as independent in this election.

In 1992, the Samajwadi Party breaks away from Janata Dal.

In 1994, George Fernandes breaks away from Janata Dal to establish the Samta Party (Harmony Party?), basically a re-established Samyukta Socialist Party, in order to ally with the BJP.

In the 1996 elections, the BJP, despite coming in second, wins the most seats. Atal Bihari Vajpayee briefly becomes PM but can't get a majority in parliament. Congress, who won the most votes and the second most seats, opt to back third place Janata Dal. This anti-BJP government is known as the United Front. Chief Minister of Karnataka H. D. Deve Gowda, despite having previously been in the Samajwadi Janata Party, becomes PM for the Janata Dal.

Also in 1996, Chandra Shekhar is now leading a party called the Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya) (Socialist People's Party (National)). Shekhar would go on to be the sole MP for this party until he died. After he died, his son was elected to replace him, as a candidate for the Samajwadi Party. Although Apparently SJP(R) still exists independently despite being totally irrelevant.

In 1997, Congress demands the United Front coalition to be more compliant to their demands. H. D. Deve Gowda is replaced as PM by I. K. Gujral.

Also in 1997, Gujral authorizes corruption investigations against Janata Dal Chief Minister of Bihar Lalu Prasad Yadav, causing him to break away and establish Rashtriya Janata Dal.

Still more splits in 1997 when Naveen Patnaik establishes Biju Janata Dal (named after his father) in order to ally with the BJP.

Gujral's government falls in 1998 when Congress withdraws support over the continued government membership of the DMK, which was implicated via the Tamil Tigers in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi.

In the 1998 elections, the Samajwadi Party, the Samata Party, Biju Janata Dal, and Rashtriya Janata Dal all win more seats than the mainstream Janata Dal. According to Wikipedia, the Janata PARTY also wins one seat, they are a BJP satellite at this point.

Early elections in 1999 after the AIADMK brings down the government. Bihar based Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav enters into a coalition with the BJP. Former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda forms Janata Dal (Secular) in protest. The alliance with the BJP works though and Janata Dal again becomes a serious player, winning 21 seats.

Also in 1999, Lok Dal is reformed as Rashtriya Lok Dal. The Indian National Lok Dal reforms too.

In 2000, Lok Janshakti Party splits from Janata Dal over the alliance with the BJP.

In 2003, Janata Dal merges with the Samata Party to form Janata Dal (United).

In 2013, the rump Janata Party, still existing for some reason, merges into the BJP.
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jaichind
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« Reply #23 on: May 01, 2014, 12:01:54 PM »
« Edited: May 05, 2014, 06:44:37 AM by jaichind »

This write-up is great.  I will over the next few posts try to put some extra info where I can to add this this great write-up.

The roots of the Janata/Socialist political tradition in modern India starts with the CSP which was started in 1934 a Socialist faction within INC.  After independence CSP broke with INC to form its own separate party.  CSP was mostly made up of OBCs and began an exodus of of OBC support which left INC to be a party of Upper Castes, Muslims, Dalits, and Tribals.  After this KMPP which was a party for OBC peasants also broke away in 1951 and merged with CSP to form PSP in 1952.

In 1959 Swatantra Party which is a free market party split from INC.

Then in 1964 SSP split from PSP led by George Fernandes which you refer to as a proto-JD(U).  In 1972 SSP and PSP merged again into Socialist Party.  

As you pointed out, in the meantime, BKD was formed by Charan Singh in 1967 also split from INC taking more OBC peasant support from INC.  Then a bunch of INC regional parties split from INC which all merged into Janata Party.  They are 1966 Orissa Jana Congress (Orissa INC splinter),    1967 Bangla Congress (WB INC splinter), and 1969 Utkal Congress (another Orissa INC splinter and you correctly calling it a proto-BJD)

Of course the INC itself had a massive split in 1969 where INC split into INC(R) (pro-Indira Gandhi) and INC(O) (anti-Indira Gandhi)  INC(R) ended up being the stronger party so we ended up calling INC(R) INC.  This took place as Indira Gandhi was trying to take INC to the Left in an attempt to defeat her internal INC enemies.

This trigged, BJS, which was the ancestor party of BJP formed an alliance with INC(O), BKD,  Swatantra Party, SSP, and PSP in the 1971 elections as a center-right opposition to INC.  CPI tended to side with INC in this election.  Indira Gandhi's INC won a massive victory in 1971 as India trended Left.  But this 1971 center-right opposition grand alliance was the basis of the Janata Party of 1977.

Of course in 1977 the various regional INC splinters all joined BJS, INC(O), BKD, Swatantra Party, Socialist Party to form Janata Party to stop the Indira Gandhi's INC.  CFD also split from INC to join Janata in 1977 which won the 1977 elections.
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jaichind
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« Reply #24 on: May 01, 2014, 12:22:17 PM »
« Edited: May 01, 2014, 12:32:38 PM by jaichind »

Note that the 1977 Janata party was a massive anti-INC alliance to stop INC after Indira pretty much had emergency dictatorial powers in 1975-77 and not doing so risked complete INC domination of the political scene.  

As soon as Janata won and came into office it started to fall apart as it started to split into Right and Left factions.  The factions that was from BJS INC(O), and Swatantra Party was on the Right and mostly support PM Desai who was from INC(O).  The factions that was from BKD, Socialist Party, various INC splinters were on the Left and supported Charan Singh.  Charan Singh wanted to be PM and this led to all sorts of internal battles within the Janata government.

What was interesting is that as Janata Party was falling apart, so was INC.  What remains of INC after the 1977 defeat was split into pro- and anti-  Indira Gandhi factions.  INC(I) led by Indira Gandhi split from INC.  The 1977-1978 regional elections showed that INC(I) somewhat more popular than INC but both still well behind Jananta.  Then Urs of INC(I) also broke with Indira Gandhi and took his faction to join INC to from INC(U).  To many this seems like the end of Indira Gandhi.

Indira Gandhi's comeback from this is one of the greatest political comeback stories of India.  Exactly because she was seen as politically dead given her party split twice, that only added to the Janata Party civil war thinking that Indira Gandhi along with INC(I) and INC(U) are not a threat.  Indira Gandhi approached Charan Singh offering to support him to be CM if his Left faction split from Janata. Charan Singh took the bait and split Janata Party and formed Lok Dal (LD).  For LD to now form a majority it needed the support of INC(I) and INC(U) and he thought he bad it based on his deals with Urs and Indira Gandhi.  Then after his government is formed Indira objected to the fact that so many of her INC(U) rivals were given top jobs and withdrew support.  This triggered  the 1980 election.  In this election it was Janata (really BJD, INC(O), Swatantra, and some CFD) led by CFD leader Ram vs INC(I) vs LD allied with INC(U).  INC(I) to everyone's surprise swept the polls and INC(I) was called INC after that as it established itself as THE INC.  In order words, Indira Gandhi conned  Charan Singh into her political comeback by taking advantage of his ambition to be PM.

After the election INC(U) became INC(S) but most members re-joined INC.  BJS faction of Janata split to form BJP and then after that Janata mostly declined as most members joined BJP or INC leaving it being active only in Karnataka, Gujarat (mostly because of INC(O) faction), Orissa (mostly due to proto-BJD), TN (mostly due to INC(IO).  LD still became an active force in Jat dominated areas like UP and Haryana as well as place likes Bihar (due to Socialists Party).  Eventually INC(S) which was only really active in Maharashtra merged back into INC.

After three years, INC was supreme in Indian politics again as the first Janata experiment ended.
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