PYQ Vault · Paper 1 · Party System & Electoral Politics
How far is it correct that the regional parties have strengthened Indian democracy and federal system? Substantiate your answer with suitable examples.
How the answer moves
The flow snapshot — the routes in, the body, the counter-view and the routes out.
Flow snapshot — how the answer moves
Intro routes
R!'-_-—: regional parties = channel for India's diversity into democratic politics → strengthened democracy + federalism to a considerable extent, conditional on balance R2 “how far” asks for degree, not a flat verdict → strengthening runs on two fronts — participation + Centre-State rebalance — bounded by risks
Body flow
democratic front: widened participation → weaker sections + SCs/STs/OBCs/minorities into mainstream → Jayal (subaltern democratic frontiers) + Sarangi (opening democratic space) → DMK/AIADMK, Tamil Nadu → federal front: rebalanced Centre-State → Sridharan (bargaining + inter- state territorial coalitions) → Hewitt & Rai (reduced misuse of President's Rule / Art. 356) → Jaffrelot (kingmakers post-1990s) → BJD Odisha development + TRS Telangana statehood
Counter-view
strengthening not automatic → parochialism, coalition instability, weak policy coherence → Hasan (no own ideology → mobilise existing fault lines)
Conclusion routes
§_®! ~strengthened considerably, but gain holds only where regional aspiration is matched by national responsibility R2 they strengthen democracy + federalism when regional aspirations are balanced with national commitments
Model answer
Handwritten, in the form it would be written in the examination hall.
