Political parties operating within a particular state or region are known as regional parties, and their main objective is to represent the goals and interests of a particular ethnic, linguistic, religious, or cultural community. These parties frequently arise in nations with a varied populace and a range of regional issues. Their objective is to tackle issues that are particular to their area and strive to protect the rights and advance the well-being of the people they represent.

Role of regional parties

Regional parties provide better governance, stability, and a stronger voice in centre-state relations, increasing political consciousness and highlighting local issues. In the era of coalition politics, they played a crucial role in national politics, sharing power with national parties in coalition governments and shaping the country’s political landscape.

Federalism under regional politics :-

“The emergence of regional parties has revolutionized Indian federalism, empowering states to assert their interests against the previously dominant Union Government. These parties now engage in bargaining with the federal government to secure benefits for their respective states. For instance, the Dravidian parties, DMK and AIADMK, have alternately formed alliances with national parties, Congress and BJP, successfully extracting concessions in the form of projects or increased grants for Tamil Nadu. In a significant shift, Tamil Nadu has gone from having no representation in the Union Cabinet to securing coveted portfolios, demonstrating the growing influence of regional parties in shaping the country’s political landscape.”