Prior to Independence, India was a collection of Kingdoms and States, administered separately, and having their own Kings, Ministers, or Administrative heads. In a way, the British unified India, though the real credit for bringing together all the States goes to Sardar Vallabhai Patel, who using a mixture of Sama Dana Bheda Dhandam tactics, managed to cajole, threaten everyone to create a larger India.
Thus we can safely assume that the Federal character of India was in existence even a century ago, and is nothing new. The British, first tried to gather all the power at the Centre, which was duplicated by Jawaharlal Nehru during his decade and a half tenure as PM. To be fair to Nehru, he was not an Authoritarian, but a liberal, who allowed the local State leaders to flourish. We had some real towering leaders at the State level like Panth, Chavan, EMS, Kamaraj, Nijalingappa to name a few. A highly insecure Indira Gandhi, who had strong autocratic inclinations, concentrated the power in the Centre, and the concept of all powerful Central Government, dwarfing over State Governments took roots during her tenure. But since her death, the power of the Centre started diminishing rapidly and has eroded to such an extend during the past decade, that no one takes Central Government and its leadership seriously any more.
During this period, we have seen the National Parties like Congress and BJP, being marginalized, and not even a force in any of the major States. In Tamil Nadu, the Dravidian Parties - AIADMK and DMK hold sway, in Karnataka, though BJP is in power, it is more due to the power held by lingayats headed by Yeduriyappa, the Congress is all but broken in AP, with TRS and Jagans regional outfit expect to decimate it in the next elections. This not taking into account TDP ruling for nearly two decades, before their ouster. Shiv Sena is a power to reckon with in Maharashtra, Akali Dal in Punjab, Mamata in West Bengal, Navin Patnaik in Orissa, Nitish in Bihar, and NC/PDP in Kashmir. BSP/SP in UP has muscled out both the national parties. Only major states where the Congress and BJP hold fort are Rajasthan and MP.
Thus, in a way, we are back to the era of powerless Centre and powerful local chieftains. And situation is likely to remain like this. The two party dominant political arena is a thing of the past, and remains more in the thoughts of political commentators, who are fed by Congress Party, than anyone else.
There are indications that the powerful State Chieftains will create a ginger group to exert pressure on the Centre to have their own way in the future. We have already seen the FDI in retail being scrapped and the Counter Terrorism Bill on hold.
The changes in the Economy post reforms has got something to do with the demise of the strong Centre concept. With Government ceasing to be the main driver of the economy (the economy is on autopilot and self-functioning), people no longer look upto Central Government, as its decision has relatively less impact on the aam admi. What they need is solutions to their day to day problems, which they feel can be done only by a party who is local and apparently sensitive to their needs.
In such a scenario, it is amusing to see Congress (BJP is better in this regard, as they have many strong local leaders like Modi, Chauhan, Uma Bharathi, Yeduriappa, Vasundhare Raja Scindia etc) going back to the victorian era of imperialistic dynasty based politics, where even a senior State Leader like Kamat of Goa, or Oomen Chandy of Kerala, or Gehlot of Rajastan has to ask for the first family's permission to open their mouth.
The days of a strong Central leader ruling India is over. Any leader who can network well, take the aspirations of the State leaders in his stride is likely to do well - ideally someone like A B Vajpayee.
It is also why Rahul Gandhi or even Narendra Modi (who is a loner) will find it difficult to be a great PM.
We are in for a long period of collective, disparage leadership to guide India.
And it might not be a bad thing after all.
