Democratic Decentralization, Political Parties and Gram Panchayats: Evidences from Assam and Tripura

The concept of democratic decentralization find its roots across the countries as it has the potential to surmount the problems of centralized planning by adopting a developmental path that reflects on the real needs and preferences of the diverse social setting. Realising such importance of decentralization, India adopted the model of decentralization. However, in due course the model is extended at the grassroots level and this has provided opportunities to the political parties to take part in the working of local governance. Keeping this in view, the present study aims to explore the extent of involvement of the political parties in the working of local governance particularly the Gram Panchayats. The study was conducted in two of the remotest states of India, i.e., Assam and Tripura. The study observed huge enthusiasm among political parties as well as rural masses to participate in the rural governance. In view of the support and zeal of the rural people and the involvement of the political parties it can certainly be said that the introduction of local self-bodies has strengthened the roots of Indian democracy.