Populist politics, institutional strain in India’s electoral democracy

By Harasankar Adhikari 

India’s democratic framework is increasingly perceived as shifting toward a system in which the ruling party exercises substantial influence over state institutions and public life. Many government actions appear closely aligned with the interests and directives of party cadres, blurring the line between governance and political organization. Public opinion is often shaped, mediated, or refracted through the priorities of those in power. While the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, critics argue that this right is frequently constrained, distorted, or met with punitive responses. In such an environment, political power and governmental authority tend to be viewed as indistinguishable.

Populism plays a prominent role in this dynamic. In theory, it represents a “demand polity,” where political actors claim to speak for the common people. Populist strategies influence how parties define community interests, identify target groups, design policies, and measure outcomes. In any democracy, competition for power is natural; political parties attempt either to win office or to extend their hold on it. Within that competition, populist appeals—whether through rhetoric or government programmes—become a shared strategy. Although citizens may gain short-term benefits from such initiatives, the deeper structural imbalance between demand-driven politics and command-oriented governance presents long-term challenges to democratic health.

In West Bengal, critics argue that political practices—good and bad—have become institutionalized over time, with significant consequences. Numerous allegations of corruption have emerged, including in welfare distribution, recruitment for public-sector jobs, coal and cattle smuggling, sand mining, and irregularities in development funds, job cards under MGNREGA, and dearness allowance disputes. Instances of violence, including serious crimes, are also cited as evidence of a politicized environment. These actions are often attributed by critics to individuals operating under political patronage within the ruling establishment.

The chief minister, who also leads the ruling party, maintains that her government is committed to integrity and public welfare. She has consistently denied that wrongdoing by party members reflects systemic failures, frequently characterizing accusations as politically motivated attempts to damage her credibility. Nevertheless, ongoing legal proceedings involving several ministers and legislators—particularly regarding a major school recruitment scandal—have heightened public scrutiny.

The school jobs case, which travelled from the Calcutta High Court to the Supreme Court, exposed deep concerns about the state’s education system. Thousands of schools have reportedly closed or face acute resource shortages, and vacancies across higher-education institutions remain unfilled. The state has published a list of candidates identified as having benefited from irregular appointment processes after prolonged litigation. While the government has signaled support for some of those affected, many candidates who were legitimately selected but lost their positions continue to face uncertainty. These developments have contributed to widespread frustration and eroded trust in the administration’s management of the education sector.

West Bengal’s democracy is thus confronting significant challenges, shaped by political competition, institutional strain, and public disillusionment. Whether renewal can emerge through civil society engagement, strengthened institutions, or alternative political formations remains uncertain. What is clear is that any future government will need to address the entrenched patterns that have contributed to the present crisis, rather than reproduce them under a different banner.