2024 Election: Indian Federalism Unveiled

Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu: Key Players in NDA

The 2024 general election was both shocking and exciting. For the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), it was particularly surprising. The party had hoped to secure more than 400 seats and was confident of achieving a majority. However, for the first time in a decade, India will have a hung parliament. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 293 seats, with the BJP, led by incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi, securing 240 seats. Other major parties within the NDA include the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) led by Chandrababu Naidu with 16 seats, Janata Dal United (JD(U)) led by Nitish Kumar with 12 seats, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) with 7 seats, and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) led by Chirag Paswan with 5 seats, with other NDA allies contributing 13 seats. This marks the first time Narendra Modi will lead a coalition government.

In the last decade, the Indian federal structure has been undermined on various occasions. Notable instances include the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir into Union Territories, the proposition of “One Nation, One Election,” and the passage of the farm bills (which were later withdrawn due to widespread protests). States governed by opposition parties have frequently accused the central government of undermining federal principles and discriminating against them in the devolution of funds. Federal systems are often seen as historical experiments in sharing policy responsibilities. Indian federalism is frequently described as quasi-federal by K.C. Wheare, with a federal structure that exhibits a strong bias toward the Centre. Part XXI of the Indian Constitution includes numerous temporary, transitional, and special provisions for various states. While Bihar and Andhra Pradesh do not enjoy any special provisions, both states have consistently demanded special status. Interestingly, both the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) of Andhra Pradesh and Janata Dal United (JD(U)) of Bihar are major parties within the NDA alliance, often being referred to as the “Kingmakers.”

The demand for special status by states is not new, and it will be interesting to observe how the BJP addresses the demands from both parties. This issue has the potential to be highly contentious and could destabilize the government during its tenure. The demands from both states are not irrational, as each has a distinct historical context. Jharkhand, which is rich in natural resources, was once part of Bihar; following the division, Bihar lacks substantial resources. Similarly, Telangana, previously part of Andhra Pradesh, has the well-developed city of Hyderabad as its capital. Currently, Andhra Pradesh is struggling to establish its own capital and will require resources to build it, a process in which the central government will play a crucial role.

A separate commission should be established to investigate the need for special status, recognizing that the central government has its own limitations. It is important to avoid opening a Pandora’s box by granting special status due to political pressure, as this could encourage other states to make similar demands. The alliance may create multiple veto points that will challenge national government initiatives.

The 2024 election results are a testament to the success of the federal structure, which requires a robust democracy where citizens have shared membership in both the central and state governments and have participated politically in both. It will be intriguing to see the NDA government led by Narendra Modi navigate this landscape. His experience has predominantly been in ruling with a full majority; governing the nation with an alliance will require patience and the real implementation of Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas.