Explain the role of Regional Parties in Indian democracy.

(i) Many of the parties in India have been classified as State Parties by the Election commission of India. These are commonly referred to as regional parties.

(ii) Parties like the Aam Aadmi Party and some Communist Party have national level political organisation with units in several States.

(iii) Some of these parties like Biju Janata Dal, Sikkim Democratic Front and Mizo National Front are conscious about their State identity.

(iv) Over the last three decades, the number and strength of these parties has expanded. This made the Parliament of India politically more and more diverse.

(v) When no one national party is able to secure on its own a majority in Lok Sabha the national parties are compelled to form alliances with State parties.

(vi) Due to national level coalition of regional and national parties it has strengthened federalism and democracy in our country.