India’s political landscape reveals a fundamental divide between national and regional parties on centralization versus state autonomy.

Q.13 While the national political parties in India favour centralisation, the regional parties are in favour of State autonomy.” Comment.

Model Answer:

Introduction

Centralisation refers to the concentration of power and decision-making authority at the national level, while state autonomy emphasises the decentralisation of power, allowing states to govern themselves with minimal interference from the central government. In India, national political parties often advocate for centralisation to maintain uniformity and control, whereas regional parties push for state autonomy to address local issues and aspirations.

Body

National parties like the BJP and Congress have historically promoted centralisation through measures such as:

• Common Election Symbol: Ensures uniformity and recognition across the country, strengthening the party's national presence.
• Anti-Defection Law (1985): Prevents elected members from switching parties, thereby maintaining party discipline and stability at the central level.

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Regional parties, on the other hand, advocate for state autonomy through actions like:

• Demand for Separate States: For instance, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) successfully campaigned for the creation of Telangana in 2014, addressing regional aspirations and administrative efficiency.
• Opposition to Central Policies: Regional parties often resist central policies perceived as infringing on state rights, such as the opposition to the National Education Policy (NEP) by states like Tamil Nadu.

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Excessive centralisation can lead to challenges such as:

• Regional Aspirations: Ignoring local needs can fuel discontent and demands for greater autonomy or even secession.
• Administrative Inefficiency: Centralised decision-making may not account for local conditions, leading to ineffective governance.

Conclusion

While national parties favour centralisation to maintain national integrity and uniformity, regional parties advocate for state autonomy to address local issues and aspirations. To balance these interests, it is crucial to promote cooperative federalism, ensuring that both national and regional interests are harmoniously integrated. This can be achieved through mechanisms like the Inter-State Council and greater fiscal decentralisation, fostering a more inclusive and responsive governance structure.

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