‘The regional parties have started playing an important role in Indian politics’. Explain.

a. During the initial few years of Indian independence, the regional parties did not play a very significant role because the developmental priorities of the nation had made centre all-powerful. Parties like Akali Dal and National conference were in existence even before independence.

b. But changing times and regional imbalances of development brought regional parties in the centre-stage after 1977. This gave rise to a number of personality-driven or family-run regional political parties like Shiv Sena, TDP, TRS, SP, BJD etc

c. Regional leaders started to affect state politics in a major way and centre also started to ask them for favours in forming the governments, since this was the time of coalition era politics

d. Issues which these parties look after are the lack of basic amenities, educational facilities, good roads, water, electricity and communications in their respective regions.