Electoral politics in Indian states : Lok Sabha elections in 2004 and beyond

In the Fourteenth Lok Sabha Elections held in 2004, it was immediately apparent that the ruling coalition—the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)—had been voted out of power and its place taken by another coalition of political parties, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). Despite this seemingly clear verdict at the time, the mandate of the elections was largely unclear. Electoral Politics in Indian States: Lok Sabha Elections of 2004 and Beyond is a comprehensive analysis of the outcomes of the 2004 elections. Using detailed electoral data from the 2004 elections from across the country, the volume covers various states, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala from the south; Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, and Rajasthan from the west; Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh in the north; and Jharkhand, West Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Manipur in the east. It examines the phenomenon of the 'third electoral front', which came into being with the 1989 elections and continues till date. From its origins in a time of political and economic instability and social upheaval, the front has, by this time, given way to a more stable order, even though the era of single party ruled governments has given way to coalition politics. The book highlights the role of state and regional politics at the center, and how the clout of regional parties has increased over the last ten years. This timely and topical volume will be useful for researchers and students of Indian politics, as well as academics, analysts and psephologists, journalists, and the general informed reader interested in the functioning of the Indian political system. This book is a comprehensive analysis of the Fourteenth Lok Sabha elections in 2004, using a large amount of empirical data from across the country. It examines the mandate of the 2004 elections, the shift in political dynamics over time, the era of coalition politics and the increasing influence of regional and state parties at the centre.