REGIONAL POLITICAL PARTIES IN NORTHEAST INDIA: ORIGINS, ELECTORAL DYNAMICS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR INDIAN FEDERALISM

Regional political parties have been a defining feature of India’s multi-party democracy, particularly in Northeast India—a region marked by ethnic diversity, historical marginalization, and strategic importance. Emerging from movements for autonomy, identity assertion, and selfrule, these parties have articulated region-specific aspirations while negotiating accommodation within India’s federal framework. This article offers a comprehensive and original analysis of the evolution, ideological foundations, electoral dynamics, and governance role of regional political parties in Northeast India. Using a qualitative and analytical methodology based on secondary sources such as Election Commission of India data, census reports, and scholarly literature, the study situates regional parties within broader debates on federalism, party systems, and identity politics. It argues that despite growing competition from national parties and increasing centralization, regional political parties continue to play a crucial role in democratic representation, centre–state bargaining, and political stability in the region. The article contributes to the literature on subnational politics by highlighting the adaptive strategies and continuing relevance of regional parties in India’s northeastern frontier.