UPSC Mains 2022 GS Paper 2 Q13: model answer

Between 1969 and 1983 the DMK's Rajamannar Committee, the Akali Dal's Anandpur Sahib Resolution and the opposition conclave at Srinagar all asked for more powers for States. Regional parties led each of them. That is the root of the statement.

Where the claim holds

• Regional parties grew from identity and language: DMK, Akali Dal, Telugu Desam, Asom Gana Parishad.
• They pushed for the Sarkaria Commission (1983), which an Indira Gandhi government set up under pressure.
• National parties in power used Article 356 often: over 90 times before 1994, across party lines.
• Today, regional governments lead on Governor's assent, GST compensation and the CBI.

The exceptions

• National parties in opposition champion States: the BJP opposed misuse of Article 356 in the 1980s; the Congress now argues for federalism.
• Regional parties in coalition at the Centre supported central schemes and laws, from the TDP in 1998–2004 to the DMK in UPA years.
• Some regional parties have centralised power within their own States and starved local bodies.

The coalition era (1989–2014)

Regional parties inside Union governments brought the Inter-State Council (1990), more devolution and the 'cooperative federalism' vocabulary. Federalism improved when they shared power at the Centre.

The current phase

Since 2014 single-party majorities returned, and Centre–State friction rose; but the GST Council still works by consensus, with States of every party voting together.

Why positions shift

Parties are rational: they defend the level of government they control. Ideology plays a part too; national parties stress unity and markets, regional ones stress identity and resources.

Verdict

The statement is broadly true as a tendency but false as a rule. The better line is: 'parties favour the level of government they hold.'

For the federation, it is the competition between them that keeps the balance.