Read the passage and answer the questions below: Party politics 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 questions about the party system and its capacity to accommodate diverse interests, …… An important test facing the polity is to evolve a party system or political parties that can effectively articulate and aggregate a variety of interests. — Zoya Hasan
Write a short note on what the author calls challenges of the party system in the light of what you have read in this chapter.
The author highlights several challenges facing the party system in India. The Congress system destroyed itself, leading to fragmentation of the Congress coalition. This triggered a new emphasis on self-representation as various sections started leaving the Congress fold since the late 1960s to form separate political parties. The rise of many regional parties after 1977 further complicated the political landscape. While these developments weakened the Congress party, they did not enable any single party to replace the Congress. The party system now faces the challenge of evolving to effectively articulate and aggregate a variety of diverse interests.
Given an example from this chapter of the lack of accommodation and aggregation mentioned in this passage.
The chapter provides the example of various sections leaving the Congress fold since the late 1960s and forming separate political parties of their own. The rise of many regional parties after 1977 demonstrates this lack of accommodation. The Political Rise of Other Backward Classes represents a significant development where groups felt their interests were not being adequately represented within the existing party structure. These developments show that diverse groups had to form their own parties because the existing party system failed to accommodate and aggregate their interests effectively.
Why is it necessary for parties to accommodate and aggregate variety of interests?
It is necessary for parties to accommodate and aggregate variety of interests because coalitions are the logic of democratic politics in our kind of society. Issues of justice and democracy need to be voiced by people in terms of class, caste, gender and regions. Popular movements and organizations are identifying new forms, visions and pathways of development. Issues like poverty, displacement, minimum wages, livelihood and social security need to be put on the political agenda by people's movements. Effective articulation and aggregation of diverse interests ensures that the state is reminded of its responsibility and that democracy remains responsive to all sections of society.
Explanation
This question tests understanding of the challenges facing India's party system after the decline of Congress dominance. Part (a) requires identifying the challenges mentioned in the passage and chapter - the destruction of Congress system, fragmentation, and the need for better accommodation of diverse interests. Part (b) asks for a specific example from the chapter showing lack of accommodation - the departure of various sections from Congress and rise of regional parties illustrates this. Part (c) requires explaining why accommodation and aggregation of interests is essential for democratic politics, drawing from the chapter's discussion of coalition logic and representation of diverse social groups.