NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Political Science Chapter 13 - Indian Politics: Trends and Developments

Answer:

1. Assassination of Smt. Indira Gandhi.
2. Formation of the Janata Dal.
3. Mandal Recommendation and Anti-Reservation stir.
4. The demolition of Babri Masjid.
5. The formation of NDA government.
6. Godhra incident and its fall out.
7. Formation of the UPA government.

Answer:

1. (d) 2. (b) 3. (a) 4. (c)

Answer:

From 1952 to 1967 the Congress Party dominates Indian politics. In 1977 for the first time non- Congress government or Janata Party government was established. After 1989 main issues in Indian politics are as follows :

1. Multiple Party System.
2. End of Dominance of a Single Party
3. Rise of Effective opposition.
4. Decline in the influence of the National Political Party.
5. Increasing Importance and Role of Regional Political Parties
6. Non-Principled Alliance of Political Parties.
7. Coalition Politics.
8. Growing Politics of Regionalism, Castecism and Criminalization
9. Growing Role of Money.
10. Hung Parliament.
11. Decline of Value Based Politics.

Answer:

The organisation of coalition government has become a regular feature of Indian political system. It is a hard fact that in the era of coalition politics, political parties are not aligning or re-aligning on the basis of ideology. Non-principled alliance of political parties before and after the election is an important feature of Indian politics. To gain power or for some other interests political parties are always ready to have non-principled alliance. In 1989 National Front was formed by Jan-Morcha, Janata Party, Lok Dal and some other parties to defeat the Congress in elections. In these elections National Front emerged as a potent political force and no other party got clear majority. National Front Government was formed at the centre with outside support of BJP and some other political parties. After the 12th Lok Sabha elections in 1998 BJP led coalition government was formed. But the government could not last for thirteen month, because after the withdrawal of support by A.I.A.D.M.K., the BJP led coalition government failed to secure the confidence vote.

In the 13th Lok Sabha election in 1999, National Democratic Alliance consisting of 24 parties secured majority in the Lok Sabha. The policies and ideology of many political parties were opposite to the policies of other parties. National Democratic Alliance formed government under the leadership of Atal Behari Vajpayee. The NDA was a large size alliance and it faced many problems. However, it completed its tenure under the able leadership of Atal Behari Vajpayee.

In April-May 2004, election for 14th Lok Sabha was held. The United Progressive Alliance led coalition government was formed undere the Prime Ministership of Dr. Manmohan Singh. United Progresssive Alliance is supported by the left parties from outside. Ideology of Congress and left parties i.e. CPI and CPI (M) are different and that is why many times left parties have threatened the UPA government to withdraw the support and ultimately left parties withdrew the support.

Non-principled alliance have given rise to the politics of opportunism and the politics of expediency. Almost all political parties are always ready to enter into unholy alliance with other parties to achieve their selfish ends.

It was happened in 2009, 2014 and even 2019 election also.

Answer:

Bhartiya Janata Party is a major National Political Party in India. The Five fold concept of ‘Suchita’ (Probity in Public Life), ‘Suraksha’ (Security) ‘Swadeshi’ (Economic Nationalism), ‘Samajik Samarasata’ (Social Harmony) and Hindutva (Cultural Nationalism) constitute the core content and ideological pillars of the B.J.P. Hindutva or cultural nationalism shall be rainbow which will bridge our present to our glorious past and have the way for an equally glorious future ; it will guide the transition from Swarajya or Surajya. The B.J.P. believes in one nation, one people, one culture.

Emergence of BJP as a Powerful Force in Post- Emergency Politics. Though Janata Party faced a split in July 1979 on the issue of dual membership,but this controversy didn’t end even after the split. On 19th March, 1980 the Parliamentary Board of Janata Party decided by majority vote that “no legislator or office bearer of the Janata Party shall participate in day-to-day activities of the R.S.S.” But the leaders of the erswhile Jana Sangh—Atal Behari Vajpayee, L.K, Advani and Nana Deshmukh expressed their strong reservation on it and recorded their dissent. On 5th April, 1980, the members of former Jan Sangh group called a two-day national convention at Delhi and decided to form a new party. The conference was presided over by Mrs. Vijaya Raje Scindia. On 6th April, a new political organisation—the Bharatiya Janata Party was born under the presidentship of former foreign minister. Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee. On April 24, 1980 the Election Commission granted recognition to the group led by Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee as a ‘national party’ with the distinct name of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The B.J.P. was also provisionally allotted the symbol of ‘lotus.’ Election Successes. The Election Commission recognised the Bharatiya Janata Party as a national party and its election symbol was Kamal flower (lotus). In the Lok Sabha elections of December 1984, the B.J.P. secured only two seats. In the 11 States Assemby Elections of March 1985 the party did not succeed much. In the ninth Lok Sabha elections of November, 1989 the B.J.P. secured 86 seats. The B.J.P. decided to support National Front government from outside.

In the eighth State Assembly elections in Feb. 1990 the B.J.P. secured absolute majority in Himachal and M.P. In the tenth Lok Sabha elections in 1991 B.J.P. secured 119 seats and in U.P. it formed the government. In 1991 the B.J.P. leader L.K. Advani was recognised as leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha. In the elections held for 11th Lok Sabha in 1996 the B.J.P. emerged as the largest party securing 161 seats. Its leader Atal Behari Vajpayee was appointed Prime Minister and he was asked to prove his majority up to 31st May, 1996 but Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee resigned on May 28, 1996 because he failed to prove his majority in the Lok Sabha. Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee was the recognised opposition leader in the 11th Lok Sabha.

In the 12th Lok Sabha elections held in Feb. March 1998, the B.J.P. secured 182 seats. The B.J.P. and its allies secured 252 seats in the 12th Lok Sabha elections. Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee was elected as the Party leader by the newly elected B.J.P. Lok Sabha members. Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee was appointed the Prime Minister. In the 13th Lok Sabha elections held in Sept. Oct. 1999, the B.J.P. secured 182 seats whereas B.J.P. and its allies secured 297 seats. On 10th Oct. 1999 National Democratic Alliance elected Sh. Atal Behari Vajpayee as its leader and he was appointed the Prime Minister. In 14th Lok Sabha elections held in 2004, B.J.P. secured only 138 seats and lost the power in centre. In the 16th Lok Sabha election held in April-May 2014, the B.J.P. won 282 seats and formed the government under the leadership of Sh. Narendra Modi.

In 17th Lok Sabha election, B.J.P won 303 seats, and again formed the government under the Leadership of Sh. Narendra Modi.

Answer:

Indian National Congress is the oldest, wellorganised and very important political party of India. After Independence Congress Party dominated from 1947 to 1967 and from 1971 to 1977 as well as from 1980 to 1989. First split of the Congress took place in 1969 and second split in 1978 and third split in 1995. After the split of 1978 the Congress under the leadership of Mrs. Indira Gandhi was called Congress (I). On March 12, 1996 the Election Commission recognised Congress (I) as the real Congress Party and it was allowed to use ‘Hand’ as its party symbol.

No doubt there is a decline of Congress dominance but still Congress has great influence in the Indian Politics. Congress is still the most important national party of India. In the tenth Lok Sabha election in May-June 1991, secured 225 seats. In April-May 1996, eleventh Lok Sabha election was held and Congress Party secured only 141 seats. In February-March, 1998 Congress secured 142 seats in the 12th Lok Sabha election. In the 13th Lok Sabha election held in Sept. Oct. 1999, Congress Party secured 114 seats. It was the worst ever performance of the Congress in the history of Indian elections. In the 14th Lok Sabha elections held in April-May 2004, the Party won 145 seats and formed the government with its alliance under the leadership of Dr. Manmohan Singh.

In the 16th Lok Sabha election held in April-May 2014, the Congress won 44 seats and in 17th Lok Sabha election, this party won 52 seats.

At present Congress has great influence on the politics of the country because it has influenced in all the states of India. Moreover, the social base of Congress is broader than that of all other parties of India.

Answer:

Party system is essential for a democratic system of government. Many people think that a two party system is required for successful democracy. For exampple in England and U.S.A. democracy is very successful due to two party system. The main advantage of the two-party system is that in it the formation of ministry is very easy. In a two party system the government is stable and responsible. In India multi-party system exists. Upto 1967 Indian politics was dominated by Congress Party. But after 1967 gradually coalition politics developed. After 1989 Coalition Government is the main feature of Indian party system. Election Commission recognised Seven National Parties and 59 State or regional parties. Present party system is working very successful in India. The present party system in India has following advantages :

1. Representation to all shades of opinion. An important advantage of present party system is that in the legislature all shades of opinion get representation. In India there exists various political parties which represent different section of people or different shades of opinion.
2. More Choice to the Voters. In India due to multiple party system voters enjoy a greater degree of independence and choices because so many political parties contest the election.
3. Cultural Pluralism. The present party system is the best because in India there exist several distinct cultural-ethnic religious—linguistic caste groups. Two party system cannot satisfy the different cultural groups. The tridity inhabiting North-Eastern regions, for instance do not identify themselves with the National Parties. Instead they have real sympathy for the regional parties.
4. Satisfy Regional Feelings and Aspirations. Present party system satisfies regional feelings and aspirations of the people. In fact, regional parties contribute to the strengthening of the federalism while underscoring the need for fulfilling the regional aspirations.

Answer:

1. The Party system in India has confronted numerous challenges. Not only has the Congress system destroyed itself but the fragmentation of the Congress coalition has triggered a new emphasis on self-representation, which raises question about the party system and its capacity to accomodate diverse interests.
2. An important test facing the policy is to evolve a party system of political parties that can effectively articulate and aggregate a variety of interests.
3. It is necessary for parties to accommodate and aggregate variety of interests because challenges are essential for the purpose of impression.