At the time of independence, Congress was the largest party of the country and was in power nearly in all states except, Bengal and Kerla. The decline of Congress started after death of Nehru and became more spectacular after Indira Gandhi assumed the leadership of the party. The party systems at national and states levels moved towards a fragmentation from the late 1980s.  De fragmentation of congress party was also fueled by dis-satisfaction of runner leaders from  high command.  Declination of congress gave opportunity to other parties, like BJP and other regional parties for their expansion.  

 At the national level there has been an end of the one party dominance and the movement towards a multi-party system. Many states have moved towards  two party system and probably this is the most prominent feature of party competition at the state levels. At national level, smaller parties rallied behind national parties and form new alliances, like United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led by congress and National Democratic Alliance, led by BJP. Third front, mostly constituted by Left parties and other reginoal parties not associated either with UPA or with NDA hav petered out.  

 Identities, castes, region, linguistic, ethnic and religion have contributed in expansion of mass support of parties like BJP, BSP, Janta Dals, Akali Dals, AIADMK, DMK, TDP and AGP etc. These parties has been used these factors as a tool to influence the voters. Thus, the Congress became a much reduced force at the state level since the late 1980s.  The expansion of the BJP in recent times has been much more dramatic than the decline of the Congress. The expansion of BJP and other regional parties like Trinmool Congress, has mainly been due to the decline of the Congress. The aggressive mobilisation strategy based around the ideology of Hindutva was adopted by BJP in the late 1980s.  

 Alliance politics was also evident in many of the other Indian states. In some other states, it was able to form governments like in Maharashtra with the Shiv Sena. Some regional parties like, Trinmool Congress, BSP, SP, TDP, AIADMK, DMK etc were able to form government alone.  By the 2014, congress has lost its largest party tag and few regional parties has more seat share in parliament.  In few states, like in Bihar, it was an alliance party to the regional parties, RJD and JD(U).

 In fragmented political system, the competition is primarily between two parties whether national or regional parties. The competition at the state level in recent years is visible in many states. Few state has two party system and some has alliances of two or more parties.  States like Uttar Pradesh, there is a four-cornered contest exists between the BJP, Samajwadi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Indian National Congress. In some states, there are a bipolar or two-party system exists but there is also an increasing growth of a third party with a significant vote share.

Related Question:

Q1. How state parties deteriorates the Indian democratic system. Analise.

Q2. Did state politics has fragmented Indian political system at center? Discuss.

Q3. How small parties have deteriorated the strong decision making of center government in India? Criticize.

Q4. Small parties are bane to democratic system. Analise.