Indian Politics and Political Parties - General Discussion

[Famous Mortimer]

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?

[Famous Mortimer]

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.

[Famous Mortimer]

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.

[Famous Mortimer]

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.

[Famous Mortimer]

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?

[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.

[Famous Mortimer]

It doesn't even look like the SJP ran in the 1991 elections, which is weird since they were kind of the ruling party.

Several sources say Chandra Shekhar, again, the incumbent PM, ran for re-election to parliament as a member of the Janata PARTY.

In 1996 he was apparently a member of the Samata Party.

It wasn't until the 1998 that he ran under the Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya) banner.

[Famous Mortimer]

Also, I don't think Jagjivan Ram was still with Janata in 1980. I'm pretty sure he had his own Congress splinter group at that point.

I know Indian parties often don't officially have PM candidates, and I wouldn't be surprised if JP didn't in 1980, but they must have at least had a public face.

[Famous Mortimer]

It did seem weird but I'm just finding several sources that list Chandra Shekhar's 1996 affiliated as "SAP." I've so far been unable to find any other parties that could have that acronym besides Samata or Samajwadi. I suppose it could just be a mistake that spread across the internet though.

On the other hand, didn't Shekhar stick with the Janata Party in 1980 despite it being the more right-wing of the two Janata factions? Also Fernandes was Janata Secretary General during the 80s when I'm pretty sure Shekhar was Janata leader. So maybe there were just close personally.

[Famous Mortimer]

Subramanian Swamy (the last leader of the Janata Party) is an interesting guy.

The last time the Janata Party had a seat in parliament was him in 1998. He won from a district in Tamil Nadu. His platform was that he didn't believe in the Aryan-Dravidian divide and he opposed the Tamil Tigers.

[Famous Mortimer]

Just a couple more questions and then I'll know everything about India.

1) What was the difference between the Praja Socialist Party and the Samyukta Socialist Party?

2) What role did the division between Gandhian socialists and Nehruvian socialists play in party politics?

3) Can you give a breakdown of castes by region? Or are they all evenly distributed? I was under the impression northern India had more upper caste people but I guess I was just misunderstanding/conflating with the Aryan/Dravidian hypothesis.

[Famous Mortimer]

Subhas Chandra Bose.

He founded the Left Front aligned All India Forward Bloc, it looks like most of his descendants are all members of the All India Trinamool Congress, which is the the de facto anti-Left Front party in West Bengal.

How did that happen?