CONTRIBUTION OF THE ROLE OF LEFTIST IDEOLOGY IN INDIAN POLITICS: A HISTORICAL ASSESSMENT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29121/ShodhSamajik.v2.i2.2025.51Keywords:
Leftist Ideology, Indian Politics, Historical Assessment, Communism, Socialism, Labour Movement, Land Reforms, CPI, CPI(M)Abstract
This paper provides a historical assessment of the role of leftist ideology in Indian politics. Its objective is to critically analyze the impact of leftist parties and movements on the Indian social, economic, and political landscape, from pre-independence to the present.
Key Findings and Contributions: The research found that leftist ideology has significantly influenced key policy areas such as land reforms (particularly in Kerala and West Bengal), the protection of labor rights, and the establishment of the Public Distribution System. At the non-parliamentary level, it has played a key role in organizing peasant and labor movements and bringing social justice issues into the national discourse.
Limitations and Evaluation: The historical assessment also shows that leftist parties have faced electoral challenges and diminished relevance due to ideological shifts at the global and national level (such as economic liberalization). This research concludes that although the left's electoral presence has diminished, its ideological contribution has left an indelible mark on India's democratic and socio-economic structure, indirectly forcing mainstream politics to focus on the issues of the poor and marginalized.
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