Federalism, Regionalism and the Governance of Diversity in Europe and Beyond 3

Abstract

Beyond Europe –the context of India A vast geographic expanse, India’s choice of a federal structure was more of a necessity at the time of its inception in 1947. Besides Westminster model was the only method of governance known to elitist clients of Indian polity. The members of Constituent Assembly believed that the federal structure was required to address the plural set-up in India which was deeply stratified along lines of caste, language and religion. People lived in largely the rural territory as urbanism was yet in state of microcosm. But more than sixty years after independence and despite division of powers clearly laid down in the Constitution, there still exist palpable centre-state tensions relating to issues of the federal structure. The pattern of governance has not been able to bridge the gap in matters relating to centre-state relations. The centre-state tensions have been addressed from time to time, the last exercise was done by Sarkaria Commission. More recently another commission has been set up under Justice Puncchi to make recommendations for ensuring smoother centre-state relations. The politics of territorial governance in India revolves around two variants- economic and political. The Planning Commission reviews and recommends allocation of funds to the states for the purpose of development. The centre-periphery bias for disbursement of funds is much resented by states. Although centre-state tensions are prevalent in most democratic states, there is a need to locate methodology for striking a balance between the federal and regional centres of power. What lessons can be drawn from the experience of difficult plurinationalism in India? How far identities, which have crystallized since eighties, impact the federal-regional tussle for power? What is the role of “sons of soil theory” in determining the relationship? How the question of “we” and “they” was addressed by India’s political structure?

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