ROLE OF REGIONAL PARTIES‌

The following points highlight the role played by the regional parties in Indian politics:

1. They have provided better governance and a stable government at the regional level.

2. They have posed a challenge to the one-party dominant system in the country and led to a decline in the domination of the Congress party3 .

3. They have made a strong impact on the nature and course of centre-state relations. The tension areas in centre-state relations and the demand for grant of greater autonomy made the central leadership more responsive to the needs of the regional actors4 .

4. They have made politics more competitive and popular participation in the political process more extensive at the grass roots5 .

5. They have widened the choice for voters in both the parliamentary and assembly elections. The voters can vote for that party which aims to promote the interest of their state/region.

6. They have increased the political consciousness of the people and also their interest in politics. They bring into focus the local or regional issues which immediately attract the attention of the masses.

7. They provided a check against the dictatorial tendencies of the central government. They opposed the ruling congress party at the centre on certain issues and forced the dominant party to be more reasonable in its approach to the process of conflict resolution6 .

8. They have made a significant contribution for the successful functioning of parliamentary democracy. In a parliamentary democracy, the minority must have its say, the majority must have its way, and the regional parties have played this role successfully by being ruling parties in some states and opposition parties at the centre7 .

9. The have succeeded in exposing the partisan role of the Governors in the appointment and dismissal of the Chief Minister, in issuing of ordinances and reservation of bills for the consideration of the President8 .

10. After the dawn of the era of coalition politics, the regional parties have assumed an important role in national politics. The have joined the coalition governments formed at the centre and shared power with the national parties9 .