Emerging Political Trends 1977 to 2000

Key points: 

1. The period between 1975 and 1985 was a testing time for Indian democracy.
2. The election of 1977 was a historic election for Indian democracy. The Janata Party had come to power promising a restoration of democracy and freedom from authoritarian rule.
3. T. Rama Rao, a popular film actor, started Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1982. He declared that TDP would stand for the honour and self-respect of the Telugu people.
4. In Assam, the locals felt that they would their cultural roots were being destroyed due to incoming of large number of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. The All Assam Students’ Union (ASSU) led a strong agitation against the central government with the main demand to stop the illegal immigration of outsiders.
5. In Punjab, an agitation came into being with the demand to separate Punjab from India and another country with the name ‘Khalistan’ shall be formed. The Khalistan movement forced the central government to take stern actions such as merciless police operations. Mrs. Indira Gandhi who initially encouraged these separatist elements for her political gains ordered for ‘Operation Blue Star’, in which a lot of militants and their ring leader Bhindranwale killed. .
6. Rajiv Gandhi initiated the Telecom revolution in India which speeded up and spread the telecommunication network in the country.
7. In 1989, the first coalition government led by V.P. Singh of Janata Dal was formed.
8. Operation Barga and strengthening of Panchayati Raj systems helped the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI (M)) to continue in power till 2006.
9. Mandal Commission provided for backward class reservations in employment and educational opportunities.
10. V. Narashimha Rao’s government introduced Liberalisation, Globalisation and Privatisation in 1991.

Key words: 

1. Regional Aspirations:Strong desires of people from particular region. Feelings of the people of a state or region in support of their culture, language or region which are translated into social or political movements.
2. Coalition Government:Government headed by a group of parties in known as coalition government. Generally coalitions form when no party has absolute majority and largest party leader becomes head of the government such as Chief Minister, Prime Minister or President and the allies get ministerial positions.
3. Communalism: A strong sense of religious belonging which lead to extreme behavior or violence against other religions.
4. Majority: A party securing highest number of seats in an electoral, the number that is sufficient to control a house. Majority can be secured by alliance of more than one parties, which is known as coalition.
5. Minority: A party having number of seats that are sufficient to get to public office, but next to the majority party/group is considered as minority government.