Electoral Politics in India

Paper Code: 
POL 423-B
Credits: 
4
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

The objectives of this course are to:

  • This paper studies the various political parties of India. The various regional and national parties are to be studied in order to gain understanding of its evolution.
  • Furthermore the regional political parties, pressure groups, and the election commission are to be studied in the light of political process to gain an understanding of the dynamics of actual politics.
  • Studies on elections and voting behavior constitute a major area of political science teaching and research all over the world. The course will relate these various theories, election machinery and behavior of both voters and candidates.

 

Course Objectives (CO)

Course

Learning outcomes (at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Course Code

Course Title

POL 423-B

Electoral Politics in India

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

CO87: Familiarize with our Electoral System and the reason as to why India has chosen this system; develop an appreciation of citizen's increased participation in electoral politics.

CO88: Recognize the significance of Election Commission and be sensitive to the existing malpractices in our Electoral System.

CO89: After completion of course student will be able to identify the need of election; how media and public opinion constitutes the important role in elections.

Approach in teaching:

Interactive Lectures, Discussion, Tutorials, Reading assignments, Power Point Presentation

 

Learning activities for the students:

Self-learning assignments, Effective questions, Seminar presentation, Giving tasks.

Class test, Semester end examinations, Quiz, Solving problems in tutorials, Assignments, Presentation, Individual and group projects
 

 

12.00
Unit I: 
Unit -1

Party System in India, Features and Nature of Party System in India

12.00
Unit II: 
Unit-II

National Political Parties- Congress, BJP, BSP, CPM. Origin, Programme, Structure, Organization

12.00
Unit III: 
Unit-III

 Regional Political Parties and its linkages with National Parties and the Federal Setup; Pressure Groups-Meaning, kinds, Role, Difference between Political Parties and pressure Groups

12.00
Unit IV: 
Unit-IV

Election Commission- Organs, Functions and Role. Electoral Reforms. Public Opinion, Role of Media

12.00
Unit V: 
Unit-V

Politics of Defection, Coalition Politics; Crime and Politics

Essential Readings: 
  • Chakrabarty,B.,& Pandey, R.K, (2021), Electoral Dynamism of Indian Politics: Deciphering the Enigma, New Delhi, Sage
  • Chakrabarty,B.,& Pandey, R.K,  (2020), Reconceptualizing Indian Democracy: The Changing Electorate, New Delhi, Sage
  • Avasthi, A.P.,(2020), Indian Political System,Agra, Laxmi Narain Agrawal
  • Fadia, B., (2021),Indian Government and Politics, Agra, Sahitya Bhawan
  • Johri, J.C.,(2012),Indian Government and Politics (vol.1&II), Delhi, Vishal Publications
References: 

Ø  Devasahyam, M.G.,(2022), Electoral Democracy?: An Inquiry into the Fairness and Integrity of Elections in India, New Delhi, Authors Upfront

Ø  Ali,Z., (2020).Communities as Votes Bank: Elections in India, New Delhi, Aakar Books

Ø  Jain,K., (2020), Electoral Reforms in India: A comparison With U.K. & U.S. Legal Systems, India, Oxford University Press

Ø  Palshikar, S., (2016), Party Competition in Indian States: Electoral Politics in Post-Congress Polity, India, Oxford University Press

 

 

E-Resources:

Ø  Kumar,S., (2021), Elections in India: An Overview, New York, Routledge, Can be retrieved from

https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Elections_in_India/-VpQEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=electoral+politics+in+india&printsec=frontcover

 

Journals :

Ø  Economic and Political Weekly

Ø  India Quarterly

Ø  Indian Journal of Political Science

International Journal of Conflict and Development

Academic Year: 
2022-23
  • Printer-friendly version
  • PDF version