Paper short abstract:

The main purpose of this paper is to analyse role of regional political parties in Indian party system and their influence on Indian democracy. Time period: 2013-2015.

Paper long abstract:

Indian party system went through enormous change from dominant party system to multiparty system. The evolution of the party system since India's independence can be divided into four stages: 1947-1967 - domination of Indian National Congress (INC); 1967-1989 - consolidation of the opposition and the emergence of a multi-party system; 1989-1998 - a time of change, 1998-nowadays- formation of the coalition system. In last parliamentary elections which were held in 2014, Bharatiya Janata Party (B JP) has won enough seats to govern without the support of other parties (first time since 1984). INC was badly defeated (only 44 seats). Two of regional parties: All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK, from Tamil Nadu, 37 seats) and All India Trinamool Congress (AITC, from West Bengal, 34 seats), became third and fourth party in the lower house of parliament. How it is influencing party system of India? How important for Indian democracy is the phenomenon of rising influence of regional parties? Can regional parties can influence on the quality of Indian democracy? In my paper I will try to answer above questions and I will propose most possible scenarios for the future.