In the midst of severe competition and many conflicts, a consensus appears to have emerged among most parties.
This consensus consists of four elements:
i. Agreement on new economic policies – While many groups are opposed to the new economic policies, most political parties are in support of the new economic policies. Most parties believed that these policies would lead the country to prosperity and a status of economic power in the world.
ii. Acceptance of the role of state level parties in governance in the country – The distinctions between state level and national level have played a central role in the country’s politics of last twenty years or so.
iii. Emphasis on pragmatic considerations rather than ideological positions and political alliances without ideological agreement.
iv. Acceptance of political and social claims of the backward castes – Political parties have recognised the social and political claims of the backward castes need to be accepted. As a result, all political parties now support reservation of seats for the ‘backward classes in education and employment. Political parties are also willing toensure that the OBCs get adequate share of power. Coalition politics has shifted the focus of political parties from ideological differences to power sharing arrangements. Thus, most parties of the NDA did not agree with the ‘Hindutva’ ideology of the BJP. Yet they came together to form a government and remained in power for the complete term.
