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VOL. 6, ISSUE 2 (2024)
Elite perspective and local government institutions – A study in Karimnagar district
Authors
Beenaveni Parusharam, Dinesh Kumar
Abstract
In India, where a democratic political framework was suddenly thrust
upon a post-colonial society with age-old traditions and culture, elections
became the agency for the democratisation of society and politics, as they
brought politics within the sphere of the common man and common man into the
political arena. They played a central role in mobilising millions of people
into the political process, crystallising public opinion on a host of issues,
institutional functioning and styles of leadership, and in the emergence and
recruitment of a new political elite. Elections have influenced the ways in
which the priorities of the political parties and the broad parameters of the
incumbent government were laid down. We have seen how elections have effected
changes in the existing policies of the government, where rejection or renewal
of a regime means rejection or acceptance of a political leadership. Indeed, it
was primarily because of the compulsions of the electoral politics that the
parties adopted pro-people policies, with an eye either to consolidate their
existing electoral base or secure support from newer sections. Even after the
introduction of new economic policies, the governments at the Centre and in the
States are compelled to carry out welfare programmes and the rival political
parties have to compete with each other in projecting themselves as protectors
of the interests of the poor and the disadvantaged. Electoral support can be
mobilised on emotional grounds and the feelings raised by caste, faction,
gender, religion and region, but such attempts have to be backed by some
tangible welfare benefits to the members of these groups. The very
implementation of the economic reforms have to be justified by the political
parties on the ground that they enable the government to spend more on people’s
welfare. Paradoxical though it may appear, this dichotomy between the usual tendency
of the political elite to use ethnic issues for political mobilization and the
repeated demonstration by the electorate of their willingness to be mobilized
on the issue of bread and butter shows 'forwardness' of the mass and
'backwardness' of the elite.
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Pages:49-53
How to cite this article:
Beenaveni Parusharam, Dinesh Kumar "Elite perspective and local government institutions – A study in Karimnagar district". International Journal of Sociology and Political Science, Vol 6, Issue 2, 2024, Pages 49-53
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