State Politics of Rajasthan: Party System, Political Demography, Different phases of Political competition in Rajasthan
The state with an area of 3, 42,239sq.km is divided into two types of constituencies- – the Parliamentary Constituency and the Assembly Constituency.
The predominant Political Parties in the state are the Indian National Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Other parties of Rajasthan include Communist Party of India (Marxist),Bahujan Samaj Party, Indian National Lok Dal , Janata Dal (United),Lok Jan Shakti Party, Rajasthan Samajik Nyaya Manch.
In the post-1990 phase electoral politics in the state of Rajasthan has been marked by routine oscillation of power between the two principal contenders: Indian National Congress (INC) and the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). Both the major political players have over the years sought to consolidate their core social support base while making sustained efforts to penetrate each others’ fortresses.
The Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha or the Legislative Assembly was formed in 1952 and is situated in the capital city of Jaipur. There is a total number of 200 MLAs and 200 seats are there, of which 33 are reserved for Scheduled Caste and 24 for the Scheduled Tribes. The tenure of the Vidhan Sabha is for 5 years.
The representatives belong to various political parties which are but groups of people with similar ideologies and interests. These political parties need to register with the Election Commission which assigns them a symbol to contest the polls with.
A party that holds sway in 4 or more states is called a national party while that having representation in 3 or less is called a state party.
Different phases of Political competition in Rajasthan
Rajasthan’s politics has mainly been dominated by two national parties Bhartiya Janta Party and Indian National Congress. The earlier politics were dominated by the Congress party. The main opposition party was the Bharatiya Jansangh, headed by Rajasthan’s most popular leader Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and the Swatantra party headed by former rulers of Rajasthan. The Congress rule was untouched till the year 1962.
But in 1967, Jansangh headed by Shekhawat and Swatantra party headed by Rajmata Gayatri Devi of Jaipur reached the majority point, but couldn’t form a government. In 1972, the Congress won a landslide victory following the victory in the 1971 war. But after the declaration of emergency, Shekhawat became immensely popular, especially after he was forced to be arrested and was sent to Rohtak Jail in Haryana.
As soon as the emergency was lifted, a joint opposition Janta Party won a thundering landslide victory winning 151 of the 200 seats. Shekhawat became the Chief Minister. The government was dismissed by Indira Gandhi in 1980 after she restored power in Delhi. In the 1980 Elections, the Janta Party split at the centre giving the Congress a victory in Rajasthan.
Indira Gandhi was assassinated in 1984, and in 1985, a sympathy wave let the Congress sail through in the elections. But in 1989, which could be called a Shekhawat wave, the BJP-JD alliance won all 25 Lok Sabha seats and 140 of 200 seats in the assembly. Shekhawat became the Chief Minister for the second term. Though Janta Dal took back its support to the Shekhawat government, Shekhawat tore apart the JD and continued to rule as the Chief Minister thus earning the title of master manipulator.
After the Babri Mosque demolition in Ayodhya, Shekhawat government was suspended by the P.M., Narsimha Rao and President’s rule was enforced in Rajasthan. Election took place in 1993 in which his party won even after the breaking of its alliance with the Janta Dal. But the then governor Bali Ram Bhagat didn’t allow Shekhawat to form the government, but after immense pressure from Shekhawat, who reached the majority point after supports from independents crossed the majority line of 101 seats in the assembly. Shekhawat became the Chief Minister for the third term.
This time he ran a successful third term. This was perhaps the diamond phase for Rajasthan as it led to all-round development and Rajasthan also gained identity on the globe as a rapidly developing and beautiful state.Shekhawat introduced Heritage, Desert, Rural, Wildlife tourism to Rajasthan In 1998 elections, the BJP lost heavily due to the onion price rise issue. Ashok Gehlot ran a 5-year government. But he lost the Lok Sabha elections in 1999, only 6 months after its victory in the assembly elections.
Shekhawat became the Vice-President of India in 2002 so he had to leave Rajasthan politics and the BJP. He appointed Vasundhara Raje as his successor. She led the BJP in 2003 elections and led it to a victory. She was the Chief Minister of Rajasthan from 2003 – 2008.But the tables turned in December 2008, when the infighting within the BJP, Raje’s perceived autocratic and despotic rule, and the police excesses in the Gurjar-Meena agitation combined to overcome the incumbent Raje government’s development and Growth planks, and the Congress emerged victorious with the support of some independent MLA’s. Ashok Gehlot was sworn-in as the new Chief Minister of Rajasthan. In 2013 Bharatiya Janata Party won by very large difference.
BJP got 163 seats and Congress got only 21 seats out of 200 seats. Vasundhara Raje became the Chief Minister for second time.
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State Government is the System of Government in a state, province, or other subnational entity. A state government is a constituent government of a federal state, which Shares political power with the federal government. The powers and responsibilities of state governments vary from country to country, but they generally include Education, healthcare, transportation, public safety, and environmental protection.
State legislatures are the law-making bodies of state governments. They are typically unicameral, meaning that they have only one chamber, but some states have bicameral legislatures with two chambers, such as a senate and a house of representatives. State legislators are elected by the people of their state, and they serve terms of office that vary from state to state.
The State Executive is the branch of state government that is responsible for carrying out the laws passed by the legislature. The head of the state executive is the governor, who is elected by the people of the state. The governor is responsible for appointing state officials, such as the heads of state agencies, and for overseeing the state budget.
The state judiciary is the branch of state government that is responsible for interpreting the laws. The highest court in a state is the state supreme court, which is made up of judges who are appointed or elected by the people of the state. The state supreme court has the power to overturn laws that it deems unconstitutional.
The state Bureaucracy is the body of non-elected officials who carry out the day-to-day operations of state government. The state bureaucracy is made up of departments, agencies, and commissions that are responsible for providing Services to the people of the state, such as education, healthcare, and transportation.
State elections are held to select the members of the State Legislature, the governor, and other state officials. State elections are typically held every two years, but some states hold elections every four years.
State political parties are organizations that seek to elect candidates to state government. The two major political parties in the United States are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. State political parties play a role in recruiting candidates, raising Money, and campaigning for candidates.
State interest groups are organizations that represent the interests of particular groups of people, such as businesses, labor unions, and environmental groups. State interest groups lobby state government officials to influence the making of state laws and policies.
State public opinion is the collective opinion of the people of a state on a particular issue. State public opinion is often measured by polls, which are surveys of a representative sample of the Population. State public opinion can influence the decisions of state government officials.
State political culture is the set of beliefs and values that are shared by the people of a state. State political culture can influence the way that state government operates. For example, states with a political culture that values individualism and limited government are more likely to have smaller government than states with a political culture that values social welfare and government intervention.
State political economy is the study of the interaction between politics and economics in a state. State political economy can influence the development of state policies, such as Economic Development policies and social welfare policies.
State social welfare policy is the set of laws and programs that provide assistance to people in need. State social welfare policies can include programs such as Medicaid, food stamps, and Unemployment insurance.
State education policy is the set of laws and programs that govern the state’s public schools. State education policies can include laws on school funding, teacher certification, and curriculum.
State Health policy is the set of laws and programs that govern the state’s healthcare system. State health policies can include laws on insurance coverage, Medicaid, and public health.
State transportation policy is the set of laws and programs that govern the state’s transportation system. State transportation policies can include laws on roads, bridges, and public transportation.
State environmental policy is the set of laws and programs that govern the state’s Environment. State environmental policies can include laws on air quality, water quality, and Waste Management.
State criminal Justice policy is the set of laws and programs that govern the state’s criminal justice system. State criminal justice policies can include laws on sentencing, parole, and probation.
State economic development policy is the set of laws and programs that are designed to promote economic growth in the state. State economic development policies can include tax breaks, subsidies, and job training programs.
State international relations is the set of relationships between a state and other countries. State international relations can include trade agreements, diplomatic relations, and military alliances.
What is the role of the state government?
The state government is responsible for providing essential services to its citizens, such as education, healthcare, and transportation. It also sets and enforces laws, and regulates businesses.
What are the different branches of state government?
The three branches of state government are the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch. The executive branch is responsible for carrying out the laws of the state. The legislative branch is responsible for making the laws of the state. The judicial branch is responsible for interpreting the laws of the state.
How are state officials elected?
State officials are elected by the citizens of the state. The method of election varies from state to state. Some states use a direct election system, in which the citizens vote directly for the candidates. Other states use an indirect election system, in which the citizens vote for electors, who then vote for the candidates.
What are some of the challenges facing state governments?
State governments face a number of challenges, including rising costs, an aging population, and a growing demand for services. State governments are also struggling to maintain a balanced budget.
What are some of the successes of state governments?
State governments have made a number of successes in recent years. For example, state governments have been successful in reducing crime rates and improving education. State governments have also been successful in attracting new businesses and jobs to their states.
What are some of the ways that state governments can improve?
State governments can improve by working together to solve common problems. State governments can also improve by becoming more efficient and effective. State governments can also improve by being more transparent and accountable to the citizens.
What is the future of state government?
The future of state government is uncertain. State governments are facing a number of challenges, but they have also made a number of successes. The future of state government will depend on how state governments address these challenges and build on their successes.
Sure, here are some MCQs without mentioning the topic State Politics:
Which of the following is not a branch of government? (A) Legislative (B) Executive (C) Judicial (D) Military
The President of the United States is elected every how many years? (A) 4 (B) 6 (C) 8 (D) 10
The Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate. (A) True (B) False
The Supreme Court of the United States has how many justices? (A) 9 (B) 10 (C) 11 (D) 12
The first ten amendments to the United States Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights. (A) True (B) False
The United States Congress is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. (A) True (B) False
The President of the United States can veto a bill passed by Congress. (A) True (B) False
The United States has a two-party system. (A) True (B) False
The current President of the United States is Joe Biden. (A) True (B) False
The current Vice President of the United States is Kamala Harris. (A) True (B) False