Question

How did regional aspirations lead to the formation of regional parties? Compare the similarities and differences between the two different phases.

Answer 1

i) In Andhra Pradesh, the change of CMs by the Congress high command and imposition of leaders from New Delhi created a feeling that the state leadership and Telugu people respected by the Congress leadership. This was seen as an insult to the pride of Telugu people.
ii) N.T. Rama Rao, a popular film actor, began the TDP in 1982 with the supposed objective of defending the honor and self respect of the Telugu people.
iii) Similarly in Assam, infiltration of large number of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh rendered local Assamese jobless. This provoked the Assamese to agitate against the situation. The student organisation All Assam Students’ Union (ASSU) conducted agitations against the outsiders. Gradually this agitation was spread throughout Assam. A party grown out of AASU – the Assam Gana Parishad (AGP) won a comfortable majority in Assam Assembly.
iv) During the 70s and 80s, people of many states felt alienated and wanted either greater autonomy from the centre or even wanted to go separate from India itself.
v) Khalistan movement’s violent activities in Punjab, which were initially supported by Mrs. Indira Gandhi, later forced to take up a military attack called ‘Operation Blue Star’. The TDP of Andhra Pradesh and AGP of Assam are the best examples of regional parties which were formed due to the raise of regional aspirations.