“Vote Banks” and the democratic process.

By freeing herself from the clutches of colonial rule , India opted for democratic form of government albeit a representative one.Such a system mandates its citizens , through adult franchisee , to choose their representatives at regular intervals of time.

Such a democratic process opens the platform for participation of various groups in pursuit of political power. Such an act creates the possibility of formation of vote banks as described by MN Srinivas in his paper entitled " The Social System of a Mysore Village".

Vote bank politics urges the political party to congregate a group of supporters , invest in their welfare and reap dividends during elections. This has been the case in India for the last two decades. And srinivas tell that such a phenomena has intensified Identity politics. He argues that policy makers indulge in populist policies to appease their core group of vote bank thereby loosing focus on Inclusive growth.

He further adds that caste groups and religious associations are the major target groups for creation of vote banks. Thus it encourages voters to vote on the basis of narrow considerations, often against their better judgement, which is considered inimical to democracy.

Today , secularism being the basic feature of Indian democracy has redered defunt both by so called secularists and communalists who appease their core group during electoral activity.

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Old/Cultural source of mobilisation like caste, religion vs new/emerging like development (may give Modi Example). Rajani Kothari said that interplay has led to secularisation of caste and democratisation of politics