After implementation of democratic form of governance on 26 Jan 1950, state politics was influenced either by Congress party or by the Left Parties. Emergence of state politics was started in mid 70s, but in late 80s, regional identities, reservations, and emergence of local leadership contributed to the involvement of state politics in the national politics. Involvement was in form of coalition politics at the Center as well as state levels. Globalisation, assertion of multiple identities based on ethnicity, i.e., caste (dalits and backward classes), tribe, language, and the farmers movements, insurgency in North-East, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, and autonomy movements contributed in emergence of state parties with regional influences. The period witnessed rise of new political parties like BSP, Janata Dals, and non-political unions like Bharatiya Kisan Unions in UP and Punjam, Shetkari Sangathan in Maharashtra, Khedyut Samaj in Gujarat and Karnataka Rajya Ryatha Sangha in Karnataka. The political groups sought share in power either in states or in center. Non-political groups sought the share in the political power and favourable terms of trade for agricultural products in the market economy. The objectives of these new social and political forces were different in different states. For example, reservation was main issue in north states. New states were demanded in central and south India. Autonomy movements were started in North-East states. Greater allocation of resources from the centre to the states was demanded by nearly all states. 

After globalization, center was weakened and influence of states in central politics increased many folds.  Since 1977 to 1998, there were several coalition governments at the center.  At the beginning, globalization was opposed by states to increase their political base. Now, there is a extreme competition among states to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from foreign donors. The states started entering into negotiations/contracts with foreign investors directly with consent of center.  

The role of political parties is normally focused on electoral mobilization, but emergence of new social forces like the dalits and OBCs has also added to the non-electoral mobilisation in the state.  The proliferation of political and social forces does not allow a single force to dominate the state politics as all of them want a share in political power. Weakening of center, regional parties became able to exercise their influence through pre and post election alliances, and fronts and partners in the coalition governments.

Insurgency and related issues occupy a central place in the politics of several states. These are also related to the self-determination movements. These developments not only impact politics of respective states but also have serious repercussion on national politics of the country. The problems of insurgency are related to the issues of development, inter-ethnic relations and autonomy. While insurgency is directed against the nation-state, in several instances it gives birth to the ethnic riots and conflict among the ethnic groups.  While the rise of the state leaders and parties challenged the dominant party system, insurgency movements question the homogenising nation-building approach of the centre in support of federation-building approach. In some states insurgency has been a by-product of autonomy movements and sometime new parties are emerged from insurgency in North East states.

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