Subject: Indian Polity

India's party system is undergoing significant transformations marked by various contradictions and paradoxes that reflect the evolving nature of Indian democracy. The transition phase exhibits both challenges and opportunities for democratic consolidation.

Contradictions in Party System

• Ideological Fluidity: Political parties often switch ideological positions based on electoral convenience, contradicting their core principles (e.g., parties opposing privatization in opposition but promoting it in power).

• Coalition Dynamics: Despite the emergence of a dominant party system under BJP, regional parties continue to maintain significant influence, creating a paradoxical power-sharing arrangement.

• Organizational Structure: While parties advocate internal democracy, they often display:

  • Dynastic leadership perpetuation.
  • Centralized decision-making.
  • Limited intra-party elections.

Paradoxes in Contemporary Politics

• Electoral Behavior:

  • According to ECI data, despite having 6 national parties and 58 state parties, electoral outcomes often favor dominant parties.
  • The 2025 Delhi Assembly elections showed BJP winning 48 seats with 47.15% votes, highlighting the first-past-the-post system's paradoxical outcomes.

• Democratic Functioning:

  • Rising number of registered parties (2,763 unregistered parties) indicating democratic vibrancy.
  • Simultaneous decline in quality of political discourse and deliberation.

Transitional Challenges

• Governance Impact:

  • Coalition politics leading to policy paralysis and implementation delays.
  • Global trend (2023-2025) showing increased coalition governments affecting stability.

• Institutional Framework:

  • Anti-defection law coexisting with frequent party-switching.
  • Election Commission's regulatory role versus increasing money power in politics.

The Indian party system's transition reflects broader societal changes and democratic evolution. While these contradictions pose challenges, they also represent the dynamic nature of Indian democracy, adapting to changing social, economic, and political realities. The success of this transition depends on strengthening democratic institutions and promoting genuine political reforms like the Political Parties (Registration and Regulation of Affairs) Act.