State Politics In India

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Introduction

State Politics in India (MPSE-008) is one of the optional courses of the Maters in Political Studies Programme of IGNOU. It aims to acquaint students with the background and context of politics in the states of Union of India; political processes and institutions; political economy of development, and challenges and issues of state politics. The state politics in India has undergone significant changes both in terms of the development of the content of the state politics and epistemological changes in the discipline. The external factors and the changes within Indian politics and society which took place over around past five decades account for the developments within state politics and its study. The states have travelled a long way from the subordinate or peripheral units of the union of India, specially after the states took the concrete shapes following their reogranisation in 1956, to occupy the centre stage in the national politics of India in the age of globalisation. In pursuit of nation-building with the Congress as a dominant party ruling simultaneously both at the centre and in most states, the states were not accorded distinct political identity in the first two decades following Independence. However, by the 1970s, the dominant party model was challenged and a large number of regional parties came to occupy prime place in the state politics. It was first reflected in defeat of Congress in fourth general election in several states in 1967. Not only this, there also emerged a larger number of regional or state level leaders with their strong social bases. By the 1990s the regional leaders and political parties came to occupy the decisive space in the national politics most appropriately expressed in the coalitions and fronts of the parties.

There also emerged new identities based on castes, regions, religions, languages, ethnicity, etc; new economic classes; several old identities have also undergone mutations. But these changes have not shown any uniform patterns in the country. There are regional patterns which vary from each other.

MPSE-008 endeavours to capture different patterns of state politics in India. It has 17 units. Main issues discussed in each unit are given below:

The first two units provide an introduction to state politics. Unit 1 introduces you to development of state politics as a political activity in India in the post-independence period. It shows how state politics has emerged as an autonomous activity from being a subsidiary of the national politics. Unit-2 acquaints you with the way scholars have studied state politics in India. It discusses the frameworks which have been used to study state politics.

Units 3-4 provide a background to state politics. Unit 3 discusses nature of India diversities and nationalist responses to them. Unit 4 is about the place of states in the constitutional schemes. Unit 5 is concerned with the development of state system in India.

Units 6-8 are about the political processes related to states. Unit 6 discusses elections and electoral politics. Unit 7 deals with political parties and party system, Unit 8 is concerned with patterns of dissent and protest movements in India states. It explains the meanings of dissent and protest; compares protest movements with social movement; and gives examples of four protest movements in Indian states.

Units 9-12 deal with political economy of developments in India states. Unit 9 is about developmental issues and regional disparities. Unit 10 discusses the relationship between agrarian transformation and land reforms in Indian states. Unit 12 explains the implications of globalisation and liberalisation for state politics.

Units 13-14 discuss the challenges and issues which face state politics in India, Unit 13 deals with inter-state disputes with reference to sharing of water and territorial boundaries. Unit 14 is about the patterns of communal politics. Unit 15 is concerned with the assertion of dalits and backward castes. Unit 16 discusses linguistic and ethnic minorities in Indian states. Unit 17 explains the autonomy movements in India states.

The units in this book have been carefully designed and written by specialists engaged in the study and research on State Politics in India. The names of the authors are listed in the book. It is advised that the users of the print material, for a deeper understanding of the subject, read as much of the books and research articles listed as at the end of the Book under the title suggested readings. Students are also advised to relate whatever they read in this book to their own observations of state politics.

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