Hyderabad: A new trend is emerging in Indian politics after the 2024 elections, with the renationalisation of the party system taking center stage. This trend involves certain regional parties losing influence while others are becoming key players in shaping the national government. These developments were discussed during a two-day seminar titled ‘Understanding Electoral Outcomes in Indian States – Lok Sabha Elections 2024’, held on January 9 and 10 at the University of Hyderabad’s Department of Political Science.
The seminar, coordinated by Professor E. Venkatesu, featured presentations from distinguished political scientists and analysts from across the country. Discussions focused on national trends, state-specific scenarios, and thematic aspects of the elections.
Professor Sanjay Kumar, national coordinator of CSDS Lokniti, highlighted the strategies, leadership styles, and campaign approaches of the BJP and Congress. Meanwhile, Professor K.C. Suri emphasized the importance of studying elections to understand Indian politics and pointed out emerging shifts in the party system.
In Kerala, Prof. Sajad Ibrahim discussed the binary political competition between the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF), along with the growing presence of the BJP. In Tamil Nadu, Dr. Ramajayam and Vignesh Rajahmani underlined the deep historical roots of Dravidian ideology, noting that this poses a significant challenge for the BJP in the state.
Focusing on Karnataka, Prof. Sandeep Shastri analyzed the unique regional dynamics of coalition politics and how they affect election outcomes. In Andhra Pradesh, Prof. E. Venkatesu explored the rise of dynastic politics and examined the reasons behind the YSRCP’s defeat and the victory of the TDP-BJP-JSP alliance.
In Telangana, Dr. H. Vagheeshan explained the declining influence of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the increasing strength of the BJP in the state’s Lok Sabha elections.
The seminar provided valuable insights into the evolving political landscape in India, emphasizing the interconnectedness of state and national politics.
