International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

E-ISSN: 2582-2160   •   Impact Factor: 9.24

A Widely Indexed Open Access Peer Reviewed Multidisciplinary Bi-monthly Scholarly International Journal

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The Changing Nature of Political Parties in Contemporary Indian Politics

Author(s) Dr. Kyasaram Kishtaiah
Country India
Abstract Political parties in India have undergone a profound transformation since the decline of the Congress system in the late 1980s. This paper examines the changing nature of political parties in contemporary Indian politics by analysing shifts in party-system structure, ideology, organisation, financing, communication, and representation between 1984 and 2025. Using a descriptive-analytical and comparative design, it draws on Election Commission of India results, Association for Democratic Reforms reports, Lokniti-CSDS survey findings, and the scholarly literature. The findings indicate that India has moved from Congress dominance through fragmented coalition politics to an asymmetric multi-party system anchored by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), even as the 2024 Lok Sabha verdict restored coalition dependence at the national level. Parties have become more leader-centric, professionalised, and welfare-oriented, while competition increasingly revolves around identity and delivery rather than class or programme. Concentrated finance, criminalisation, dynastic succession, and weak internal democracy persist, and women remain under-represented. Regional parties continue to shape federal bargaining but face organisational and electoral pressure in several states. The paper argues that Indian parties are best understood as hybrid organisations combining catch-all, cartel, and personalised-leadership traits, and concludes with reform proposals on transparency, internal democracy, and inclusive candidate selection for representative democracy.

 
Keywords Political parties; party system; Indian politics; Bharatiya Janata Party; regional parties; coalition politics; political finance; Lok Sabha elections
Published In Volume 7, Issue 3, May-June 2025
Published On 2025-05-07
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E-ISSN 2582-2160
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CrossRef DOI prefix of IJFMR is 10.36948/ijfmr

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