Essay – The complexity and unpredictability of Indian politics
The complexity and unpredictability of Indian politics Essay: The inception of the Indian Political Structure occurred during a tumultuous socio-cultural context ushered by the partition on the brink of India’s Independence on 15 August 1947. The two major political parties, The Indian National Congress and the Muslim league were contesting for political hegemony. Thus, Indian politics have been complex and unpredictable since its inception.
Discussion
After its independence, India opted to be a ‘Sovereign’, ‘Socialist’, ‘Secular’, ‘Democratic’, and ‘Republic’ with a ‘parliamentary’ government characterized by a Federal structure that is unitary. The federal structure distributes administrative and bureaucratic responsibility to the Union or Central and State Governments with the powers of each government enlisted under central, state and concurrent lists respectively. The Central government is spearheaded by the Prime Minister whereas the President serves as the Constitutional head, the first citizen of the nation and the Chief of the Army, Navy and the Airforce. The election procedure of the Prime Minister, Chief Minister and President varies, and thus is a primary source of complexity in Indian Politics. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President of India in addition to the candidate having a majority of the Lok Sabha ( Lower House) for a tenure of five years. The election of the Prime Minister is known as an indirect election for the candidate elected by the Council of Ministers who are elected by the general public of India with the ascension of the President. On the contrary, the Presidential appointment is more complex for it is done through an indirect and electoral combination consisting of both Rajya Sabha (Upper House) and Lok Sabha. In addition, the President has to acquire the majority of each Legislative Assemblies of every state and union territory of India, who in turn are elected by the general population of India. The election of Chief Ministers of Indian states relies on the State Legislative Assemblies’ vote of confidence which is in turn elected by the voters of each state. Instances of ‘No Confidence Motion’ is an unpredictable facet of Indian Politics. Atal Bihari Vajpayee lost his candidature in parliament after he lost the ‘no-confidence motion’ in 1999 by a margin of a single vote (269-270). Morarji Desai was compelled to resign from his office on 12 July 1979 citing the same reason. The Narendra Modi-led central government was the recent case facing a “no-confidence” motion that was taken up by the speaker. He was reinstated in his office after winning the motion (324-125). The political idiom “ Aya Ram, Gaya Ram” emanates from arguably the most unpredictable event in Indian political history. The event centres around Gaya Lal, an MLA of the Haryana Legislative Assembly by independent elections who joined the INC, changed to United Front and back to INC through political defection over a fortnight. Thus began a trend of political floor-crossing that was curbed in 1985.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Indian politics is inherently complex and unpredictable provided the chaotic and tumultuous sociocultural and economic atmosphere it originated in. The complexity of the election procedure for the head of the nation, central government and states is a testament to proving the unpredictable nature of politics in India. The trend of floor crossing of elected candidates such as Gaya Lal and the number of no-confidence motions suggest that Indian politics is going to remain in such a state till further amendments to the process.
FAQs related to The complexity and unpredictability of Indian politics essay
Q1. Which political parties dominated before the independence of India?
Ans: The two major political parties, The Indian National Congress and the Muslim league were contesting for political hegemony.
Q2. What is the political structure of India?
Ans: After its independence, India opted to be a ‘Sovereign’, ‘Socialist’, ‘Secular’, ‘Democratic’, and ‘Republic’ with a ‘parliamentary’ government characterized by a Federal structure that is unitary.
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