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Political Competition in the Heartland : Emerging Patterns in Uttar Pradesh

This is an abstract of a lecture delivered by Prof. Sudha Pai at the CMF, New Delhi

Article | April 29, 2014 - 9:13am | By Sudha Pai

* Sudha Pai is Professor at the Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and the Rector of the

University. She was Senior Fellow at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi from 2006-09. She is the author of

Dalit Assertion (Oxford India Short Introductions, 2013); Developmental State and the Dalit Question in Madhya Pradesh:

Congress Response (Routledge 2010); and Dalit Assertion and the Unfinished Democratic Revolution: the BSP in Uttar Pradesh

(Sage 2002). She has edited/co-edited among others: Handbook on Politics in the Indian States: Regions, Political Parties and

Economic Reforms (Oxford University Press, 2013); Interrogating Reorganization of States: Culture, Identity and Politics in

Independent India (with Asha Sarangi, Routledge, 2011) and Political Process in Uttar Pradesh: Identity, Economic Reforms

and Governance (Pearson/Longman 2007)

All are cordially invited | Kindly join us for a cup of tea at 1030 a.m. in the Cafeteria |For further information on the speci

Abstract: Uttar Pradesh (UP) provides a useful site to examine the pattern of political competition in the forthcoming national

elections 2014. It has always mirrored major transformative developments in the country: shift in the party system, rise of

the Hindutva ideology, movements such as Mandal or the Dalit upsurge. Moreover, with regional and state parties becoming

partners in national coalitions, the importance of key states such as UP has increased. Upto the 1980s UP was an excellent

example of single party dominance and stability. In the 1990s it reflected the de-stabilizing changes experienced due to the

collapse of the Nehruvian consensus on secularism and socialism leading to fragmented multi-partyism, hung assemblies,

short-lived coalitions and poor governance. With the relative weakening of identity politics by the early 2000s it was widely

believed that political stability with bi-polar competition between the SP and BSP on a development-oriented agenda, had

returned to UP and on the national scene.

UP is once again set to become the battle ground for intense political competition to capture power at the centre between

the two major national parties, the BJP and the Congress, together with strong challenges from the SP and BSP. The selection

of Narendra Modi to lead the BJP’s electioﾐ caﾏpaigﾐ puts hiﾏ iﾐ direct coﾏpetitioﾐ with Rahul Gaﾐdhi. Three issues which

seemed to be settled will once again play a determining role. Hindutva and communal mobilization visible in low intensity

disturbances since the SP assumed power in 2012 leading to the Muzzafarnagar riots, and attempts by the BJP to revive its

Hindutva agenda with the support of the Sangh Parivar. Contestation for the support of the Muslim community, which was

entering a post-Babri Masjid phase, but now seems to be moving away from the SP and is angry with the Congress for failing

to fulfil promises. Caste remains a determining factor and Dalit votes will play a crucial role as the Congress hopes to obtain

some support and might try to align with the BSP to meet the challenge of the BJP. In sum, UP seems to represent an

unchanging India where older patterns are rearing their heads once again despite emergence of civil society movements

against clean politics and better governance. This paper will examine these seminal issues that will play a role in the Lok

Sabha election due in 2014 and their impact on Indian democracy.

Professor of Political Science and Rector, JNU, New Delhi

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