India’s political landscape was shaken by ​​Certain incidents of the 1980s like when Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her bodyguards in 1984. Rajiv Gandhi became the new Prime minister and in the following election to Lok Sabha he led Congress party to a massive victory. By end of 1980s and beginning of 1990s the country witnessed five developments that created far-reaching consequences in Indian politics.

Five Major Developments in Indian Politics in 1990s

The End of Congress System

• In 1984, Congress party secured a whopping 415 Lok Sabha seats, but in a subsequent election, this figure drastically reduced to 197. 
• Congress staged a comeback after midterm elections in 1991. However, 1989 marked the conclusion of ‘Congress system’, symbolising a paradigm shift in Indian politics.
  • Despite its importance, Congress experienced a decline in centrality within the party system.

The rise of the Mandal Issue, 1990

• In 1990, the National Front government’s decision to enforce the Mandal Commission’s recommendation, reserving central government jobs for Other Backward Classes, triggered violent nationwide ‘anti-Mandal’ protests. 
  • This conflict, known as ‘Mandal issue‘, significantly influenced politics from 1989 onwards.

New Economic Policy

• The initiation of structural adjustment programs or new economic reforms by Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 marked a decisive departure from India’s economic trajectory since Independence. 
  • Despite widespread criticism from various quarters, subsequent governments have maintained these policies.

Ayodhya Dispute, 1992

• Babri Masjid demolition in December 1992 triggered significant political shifts in India, intensifying debates on nationalism, and secularism, and giving rise to the BJP’s ‘Hindutva’ politics.

Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, 1991

• In 1991, during an election campaign tour in Tamil Nadu, Rajiv Gandhi was tragically assassinated by a Sri Lankan Tamil associated with the LTTE. 
• Congress emerged as the largest party in the subsequent elections, leading to the appointment of Narsimha Rao as the Prime Minister after Rajiv Gandhi’s demise.

Era of Coalitions

Congress party was defeated in 1989 elections and no party got a clear majority.

• Elections of 1989 marked the end of the Congress System.
• The National Front, an ally of Janata Dal and some other regional parties, formed the government.
  • The National Front received support from two diametrically opposite political groups: BJP and Left Front.
• National Front formed a coalition government, but the BJP and  Left Front did not join this government.

Decline of Congress

Defeat of Congress party marked end of Congress’s dominance over Indian party system.

• An era of a multi-party System and coalition governments at Centre had begun.
• Regional parties started to play a crucial role in national politics. (Refer to Figure 8.1)

Alliance Politics

Rise of Regional and Caste-Based Politics: Emergence of powerful parties and movements that represented Dalit and backward castes (Other Backward Classes or OBCs).

• Many of these parties represented powerful regional assertions as well.

• Coalition Experiment: These parties played an important role in the United Front government that came to power in 1996.
  • United Front was similar to the National Front of 1989 for it included Janata Dal and several regional parties. 
    • This time the BJP did not support the government.
  • In 1989, National Front received support from the BJP and the Left Front, to keep Congress out of power.

• A Strategic Alliance: In 1996, United Front Govt formed with the support of Congress and Left Front, to keep BJP out of power.
• BJP’s Growing Strength: BJP continued to consolidate its position in elections of 1991 and 1996 and it emerged as the largest party in 1996 election and was invited to form the government.
• Era of Coalition Politics Begins: After elections of 1989, a long phase of coalition politics began in India.

Conclusion

The political landscape of India underwent a dramatic transformation during the 1980s and 1990s, marked by significant events such as Indira and Rajiv Gandhi’s assassinations, a decline of the Congress system, a rise of Mandal and Ayodhya issues, and implementation of new economic policies. These developments led to emergence of coalition politics, regional parties, and caste-based movements, fundamentally altering India’s political dynamics and governance structure.

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