According to Edmund Burke, “Political parties are a group of people sharing common ideology and coming together for the pursuit of common interest.” In India’s quasi-federal system, political orientation of parties influences the federal balance.
National Political Parties – Tilt Towards Centralisation
Political Reasons
Ideological focus on unity and integrity – Eg- Emphasis on “One Nation” narrative
National security concerns – Strong Centre seen as vital for sovereignty. Eg- AFSPA
High-command party culture – Central leaders dominate over state units.
Uniform electoral strategy – Centralised messaging ensures consistency.
Institutional Reasons
Constitutional centralism – Support for Centre’s powers under Articles 249, 356, and 352.
Governor’s role – Used as a central instrument in state politics.
Economic Reasons
Fiscal centralisation – Centre controls major taxes and revenue flows.
Centralised planning legacy – Planning Commission model favoured top-down control.
Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) – Used for visibility and control (e.g., PM-KISAN).
Uniform economic policy – Eg- GST.
Social & Cultural Reasons
Nation-building agenda – Eg- Ek Bharat, Sreshtha Bharat
Integration of diversity – Central schemes for social cohesion and inclusion. Eg- One Nation, One Ration Card
Promotion of national language/symbols – Eg- Three Language Formula
Regional Political Parties – Favour State Autonomy
Political Reasons
Rooted in regional identity movements- Eg – DMK (Tamil identity), TMC (Bengal pride).
Opposition to central interference- Resist misuse of Article 356 and Governor’s powers.
Institutional Reasons
Representation in central bodies- Seek stronger role for states in institutions like Finance Commission and NITI Aayog.
Push for cooperative federalism- Eg- Anandpur Sahib Resolution on centre-state relations
Economic Reasons
Fiscal autonomy- Demand greater tax devolution and freedom in fund usage.
Resource control- Want more authority over natural resources and industries.
Discontent over CSS- Oppose Centrally Sponsored Schemes that restrict flexibility.
Social & Cultural Reasons
Language and cultural protection- Eg – DMK’s anti-Hindi protests.
Address local inequalities- Focus on state-specific social justice and caste realities.
“Federalism is not a monolith; it is a dialogue between self-rule and shared rule.” It must rest on the principles of autonomy, adequacy, and elasticity.