This volume is the sixth in the series of essential readings in Indian government and politics focusing on political parties in India. It introduces the reader to the extensive and varied landscape of parties by bringing together seminal articles, new studies on national and regional parties and specific commentaries on important aspects of parties and the party system in India



The book covers an exceptionally wide terrain ranging from a discussion of individual parties, to their location in the context of nationalism and communalism, to more topical issues such as state funding of elections, party nominations, women`s representation and defections.