New Delhi: Apart from the two national giants, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (INC), a plethora of regional parties exert significant influence in their respective states. These parties, like Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu, and the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, boast dedicated vote banks and have played a crucial role in forming governments at both the state and central levels.
Currently, the SP is part of the “India Alliance,” a coalition of opposition parties. The Janata Dal (United) (JDU), Shiv Sena, and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are also members. Additionally, Mamata Banerjee’s TMC has joined the anti-BJP alliance.
However, several prominent parties like Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha, K Chandrashekhar Rao’s Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Telangana, and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Punjab remain unaligned with either the NDA or the India Alliance.
Consequently, both major alliances are vying to bring these parties into their fold. But the question remains: can regional parties truly alter the balance of power in Delhi?
SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav has been vocal about uniting the opposition, advocating for the leader of the strongest party in each state to spearhead the alliance in that region. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee shares this sentiment.
However, doubts persist regarding the ability of regional parties to present a unified front against the BJP. The 2019 elections offer some insights.
2019 Performance of Regional Parties:
- Uttar Pradesh: The SP secured 17.96% of votes compared to the BJP’s 49.56%.
- Maharashtra: Shiv Sena garnered 23.29% of the votes against the BJP’s 27.59%.
- West Bengal: TMC received 43.2% of the votes, while the BJP polled 40.25%.
- Delhi: The AAP won 18.11% of the votes against the BJP’s 56.56%.
It’s important to note that both the Shiv Sena and SAD were part of the NDA in 2019 but have since parted ways.
The NDA’s Composition:
- 2013: 29 parties.
- 2014: The BJP won 282 seats on its own, while its partners secured 54.
- 2019: The NDA won 354 seats, with the BJP bagging 303 and its allies 51.
Despite the alliance’s growth, the BJP considers its partners in UP, Bihar, and Maharashtra particularly valuable.
Challenges in Bihar:
The BJP faces a formidable challenge in Bihar from the Grand Alliance, a coalition of the Congress, RJD, and JDU. However, Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustan Awam Morcha has joined the NDA. Manjhi’s party and others like Upendra Kushwaha’s RLSP and Ram Vilas Paswan’s LJP have limited influence, with vote shares ranging from 2.4% to 6%.
India Alliance:
The Congress-led alliance includes several parties with significant political influence and former NDA members. This complicates the path for unaligned regional parties.
BJP’s Allies in UP:
- Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP)
- Apna Dal (Sonelal)
- Nishad Party
Apna Dal (Sonelal) won two seats with a 1.2% vote share in 2019, while the Nishad Party did not win any seats. However, they performed better in the 2022 assembly elections.
These small parties cater to specific segments of voters. For example, the SBSP helps the BJP strengthen its hold in Purvanchal. The BJP may also seek an ally in Punjab after the Akali Dal’s departure over the farm laws.
Southern Politics:
- DMK has joined the India Alliance in Tamil Nadu.
- The BJD in Odisha maintains neutrality.
- K. Chandrashekhar Rao’s BRS in Telangana may be open to joining the NDA after being voted out of power.
Conclusion:
Regional parties play a crucial role in India’s political landscape. Their allegiance significantly impacts the formation of governments and the course of national politics. However, the question of whether they can effectively challenge the BJP’s dominance remains unanswered. The 2024 elections will be a critical test for both the regional parties and the established national parties.
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