A Comparative Political Analysis of Political Parties in Uzbekistan

and India

Doniyor Botirov

Toshkent State University of Oriental Studies, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Keywords: Election System, Civic Society, Multi-Party System, Democratic Institution, Political Party, and Political

Process.

Abstract: The article is devoted to studying the concept of a political party, and its role in society as well as the

establishment and improvement of political parties, which have great importance in the formation of the

political system and civil society of Uzbekistan and India. The article's goal is to compare and contrast the

political parties in India and Uzbekistan.

1 INTRODUCTION

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The development of the political consciousness of

mankind, along with the times, has an effect on the

improvement of political processes, the political

system, and its components. Sustainable activity in

modern civil society requires an organic connection

with several diverse public organizations, the most

important of which are political parties. Political

parties are one of the main elements of the social

system. The famous English politician Henry St. John

Bolingbroke recognizes the political party as a

democratic institution and states that "the party is the

voice of the nation". Political parties are therefore

essential to the way of life of the world's fastest-

growing civilizations. Political parties have grown

more powerful over the past century as a means of

forming government bodies as well as a means of

representing the interests of various groupings in

society. The creation of political parties "created real

opportunities for an entire nation to actively

https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2496-5226

cooperate with political institutions," according to a

French political scientist and the originator of the idea

of political parties, Mouris Dyuverdge. So, political

parties allow citizens to participate in introducing

new laws as well as governing the state. In this case,

a political party is the most active part of citizens,

connected on the basis of a common ideology,

striving to gain, maintain, and implement state power.

The specific characteristics of political parties lead to

positive results in the conditions of legal competition

and contribute to the development of the state and

society.(

Tashmetov, T. X., 2020- Duverger, M.,2000).

2 ANALYSIS & FINDINGS

In political science, concepts such as political party,

civil society, democracy, and elections are

interrelated and complementary problems. Many

scientists have extensively researched the issues of

civil society and the participation of political parties

in its development. Among the Western scientists

who carried out leading scientific research in this

field, M. Duverge, T. Parsons, T. Hobbs, M. Weber,

J. Sartori, G. Hegel, S. Benhabib, N. Fraser, S. White,

D. Chizhov, B. Isaev, S. Lansov, Uzbek scientists M.

Kyrgyzbayev, A. Otamuradov, Q. Nazarov, S.

Berdikulov, R. Hasanov, V. Kochkarov, H.

Akhmedov, B. Yakubov, and others have learned.

954

Botirov, D.

A Comparative Political Analysis of Political Parties in Uzbekistan and India.

DOI: 10.5220/0012935300003882

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 2nd Pamir Transboundary Conference for Sustainable Societies (PAMIR-2 2023), pages 954-958

ISBN: 978-989-758-723-8

It can be seen that the political party is seen as the

main link of political processes. This part of the

article expresses the formation of political parties in

the Republics of Uzbekistan and India and their

participation in political processes.

The development of Political parties in

Uzbekistan: Uzbekistan’s political parties have

become an important institution in the republic’s

political life. Five parties have been formally

registered by Uzbekistan's Ministry of Justice as of

2023.

Established in 1991, the People's Democratic Party of

Uzbekistan (PDPU). Protecting the interests of the

general public, who require targeted and social

protection from the state and society, is one of the

goals of the PDPU program, which concentrates on

social policies. The People's Democratic Party of

Uzbekistan (PDPU) is built on the concept of popular

democracy, which is founded on the notion of a social

state. It occupies a leftist stance in the national

political spectrum.

Following the 2014 parliamentary elections, the

Uzbek Democratic Party faction declared in the Oliy

Majlis Legislative Chamber that it was in opposition

to the Bloc of Democratic Forces, which was formed

by the Uzbek Democratic Party and the Liberal

Democratic Party of Uzbekistan. A portion of the

population in need of specialized social support from

the government and society, such as the elderly and

disabled, as well as workers from budgetary

organizations responsible for their social security and

members of the community, comprise its primary

constituency.

The main platforms of this party are social security

and equality, assistance for low-income families and

vulnerable populations, and the maintenance and

strengthening of the state's involvement in many

areas of society.

In addition to putting more responsibility on local

government and economic administration bodies as

well as citizens' self-government bodies for the

effective implementation of resolutions in the best

interests of those groups of people, the PDPU

supports solidifying the state's authority and

guaranteeing the protection of pensioners, the

disabled, and other socially vulnerable populations.

The party's economic priorities include the creation of

a regulated and socially conscious market economy

that ensures the effective interplay of market

mechanisms and social policy regulations set by the

government, as well as the equitable distribution of

economic benefits in favour of low-income groups.

On the other hand, in the social realm, they

encompass the implementation of strong policies for

the benefit of the underprivileged and marginalized

segments of society.

The PDPU's foreign policy aims include proactive

and consistent foreign policy focused on fostering

positive relationships with other nations based on the

ideas of equality, mutual benefit, and non-

interference in domestic matters.

The PDPU backed Islam Karimov in the 1991

presidential contest, but its leader, Khotamjon

Ketmonov, was nominated for the 2015 contest, in

which he received 2.92% of the vote. In the 2014

legislative elections, PDPU secured 27 out of 150

seats, placing them in third place. In the 2019

legislative elections, PDPU secured 18 out of 150

seats, placing them in fourth place.

The National Democratic Party (Fidokorlar) and the

National Revival (Milly Tiklanish) Democratic Party

(NRDP), which was founded in 1995, combined in

June 2008. Fidokorlar and Milliy Tiklanish held 18

and 11 parliamentary seats, respectively, before to the

merger. The NRDP inspires Uzbeks to develop a

stronger sense of national identity as well as to

cherish and bolster their loyalty, pride, and love for

their motherland. The National Revolutionary Party

(NRDP) of Uzbekistan secured 36 seats in the most

recent parliamentary elections. It also secured 35

seats out of 150 seats in the 2019 legislative elections,

placing it in second place. The NRDP is often

categorized as a moderate conservative movement. It

is a right-wing political party in the political sphere.

Together with the Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic

Party (LDP), its parliamentary group in the

Legislative Chamber (lower house) of the Oliy Majlis

(Supreme Assembly) established a Bloc of

Democratic Forces. Its voters include members of the

creative intelligentsia, professionals in the fields of

culture, art, and information, young people with a

strong sense of patriotism, and artisans.

The national revival problem, which is defined as the

reawakening and fortification of national identity, is

one to which the party pays particular emphasis. It is

shown in favour of the principles of national unity and

independence as well as the preservation and

advancement of historically structured state and

public life in accordance with pertinent national

traditions, its moral and legal framework inherent in

the nation, religion, and family. In the socio-political

sphere, the Milliy Tiklanish DPU considers it

necessary to consolidate national statehood and

stands in support of traditional democratic institutions,

which promote national revival. It backs the goal of

strengthening the unity of the populace and all Uzbek

citizens, regardless of their origins, socioeconomic

class, religion, or ethnicity.

A Comparative Political Analysis of Political Parties in Uzbekistan and India

955

The party supports the growth of traditional forms of

national production, such as family entrepreneurship

and handicraft, as well as the complete support of

domestic commodity producers. In the economic

arena, the party views it as critical to maintain the

nation's economic and food independence. The

growth of tourism as a powerful instrument for

popularizing and promoting the history and culture of

a country is its top aim.

The party's external aims include actively pursuing

foreign policy with the goal of strongly defending

national interests, widely publicizing the artistic and

cultural accomplishments of the Uzbek people, and

enhancing the Republic's reputation abroad.

Founded in 1995, the Social Democratic Justice

(Adolat) Party (SDJP) prioritizes trade unions and

disadvantaged populations, such as low-income

families, in its efforts to improve democratic

procedures that uphold national independence. In our

nation's political spectrum, the Adolat (Justice) Social

Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (SDPU) occupies the

left-centering slot. Access to social and economic

possibilities, fairness and solidarity, a dedication to a

just civil society, and a market economy with a social

focus are among the main tenets of SDPU. The party

is in support of building a welfare state that serves

everyone, combining the ideas of social justice,

freedom, and equality with the active involvement of

the general people in determining the direction of the

nation's growth.

In terms of society, the party believes it is important

to implement the idea of equal rights and

opportunities, provide each person with a good

standard of life, and avoid social stratification at a

high level based on social services and money.

The party in the judicial domain prioritizes

strengthening the concepts of openness and

transparency in the functioning of courts, equality and

competition of the parties in trial procedures, and

efficient public monitoring of the operations of law

enforcement authorities.

Adolat SDPU supports the execution of international

programs in the context of accomplishing the

Millennium Development Goals, as well as dynamic

external political efforts targeted at maintaining peace,

stability, and sustainable development in the nation.

In 2003, the Uzbek Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)

was established. The Liberal Democratic Party of

Uzbekistan (UzLiDeP), also known as the Movement

of Entrepreneurs and Businesspeople, is a center-right

political party that espouses liberal democratic values

based on modern democracy, which is understood to

be a representative democracy, in which political

groups compete with one another for the voices of the

electorate. Human rights and liberties, on the other

hand, are its main values.

After gaining a majority in the 2014 general elections,

this party's parliamentary group in the lower house of

parliament teamed up with the Milliy Tiklanish DPU

to establish the Bloc of Democratic Forces. For the

first time in parliamentarian history in Uzbekistan,

the LDP submitted a candidate for prime minister, in

accordance with Article 98 of the national

constitution.

In the 2004 legislative elections, the LDP ran for the

Legislative Chamber for the first time, winning 41 of

the 120 seats and 34.2% of the total votes cast. Its

seats increased to 150 in 2008. It ranked first in the

2009 and 2014 elections, winning 53 and 52 seats

respectively. As for the 2019 parliamentary election,

LDP belonged to 48 seats in the Legislative

Chamber.[8] LDP's nominee for the 2007 and 2015

presidential elections was Islam Karimov as well as

for the 2016 and 2023 presidential elections was

Shavkat Mirziyoyev. In terms of membership, the

LDP is the biggest party in the country.

Among the government's top concerns is protecting

the environment and public health, which is the goal

of the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan (EMU),

which was established in 2008. EMU pays particular

attention to the Rogun Dam building, which is

causing tensions between nations upstream

(Tajikistan) and downstream (Uzbekistan). The

legislative elections are not attended by the EMU.

The Ecological Party of Uzbekistan was founded in

2019 and is based on the Ecological Movement of

Uzbekistan. The EMU's highest body appoints the 15

members of the parliament who represent it till 2019.

However, in the 2019 parliamentary elections, the

Ecological Party of Uzbekistan secured 11 seats.

The development of political parties in India: India

operates on a multiparty system. Political parties at

the federal and state levels are granted recognition by

the Election Commission of India (ECI) in

accordance with objective standards. A legally

registered political party is entitled to certain benefits,

such as a reserved party emblem, free airtime on

state-run radio and television, influence in choosing

election dates, and control over electoral laws and

procedures. Other political parties must register with

the Election Commission of India in order to run in

municipal, state, or federal elections. After a Lok

Sabha or state legislative assembly election,

registered parties that satisfy the necessary

requirements are elevated by the ECI to recognized

national parties or state parties. The ECI periodically

assesses the recognized party status.

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According to the Election Commission of India's May

2023 publications and later notifications, there are

2,597 unrecognized parties, 54 state parties, and 6

national parties. Every registered party running for

office must select a symbol from the EC's list of

acceptable symbols. Unless the President's rule is

imposed under specific circumstances, all 28 states in

the nation, as well as the union territories of Jammu

and Kashmir, the National Capital Territory of Delhi,

and Puducherry have elected governments. India has

six national political parties, and these parties have

been instrumental in forming democracy in the nation.

India has a wide variety of political parties, ranging

from the Bharatiya Janata Party to the Indian National

Congress, each with distinct ideals and aspirations for

the nation.

Founded in 1885, the Indian National Congress

stands as one of the country's oldest political

organizations. Several of its founders went on to

become India's first prime ministers, and it was

essential in the country's independence campaign.

The party's ideology is based on the principles of

secularism, socialism, and democracy. The party has

been in power for the majority of India's post-

independence history, and its current president is

Sonia Gandhi. The party secured 52 seats in the Lok

Sabha, the lower chamber of the Indian parliament, in

the 2019 general elections. India's reigning party, the

Bharatiya Janata Party, was established in 1980. The

party's ideology is based on Hindu nationalism, and it

advocates for a more conservative and traditionalist

vision of Indian society. The party's leader is Prime

Minister Narendra Modi, and it currently holds a

majority in the Lok Sabha, with 303 seats. The party

has been in power since 2014 and won a second term

in the 2019 general elections with a massive majority.

The Communist Party of India was founded in 1920

and is one of the oldest communist parties in the

world. The party’s ideology is based on Marxist-

Leninist principles, and it advocates for a socialist and

classless society. The party has been a significant

force in Indian politics, particularly in the southern

states of Kerala and West Bengal. The party has been

in decline in recent years, and in the 2019 general

elections, it won just two seats in the Lok Sabha.

The Nationalist Congress Party was founded in 1999

and is a centrist political party that is primarily based

in the state of Maharashtra. The party's ideology is

based on social justice, secularism, and democracy.

Sharad Pawar is the party's leader, and it won five Lok

Sabha seats in the 2019 general elections.

Founded in 1984, the Bahujan Samaj Party is mostly

centered in Uttar Pradesh, a state in northern India.

The party's ideology is based on social justice and the

empowerment of marginalized communities such as

Dalits and OBCs. The party has been a significant

force in Uttar Pradesh politics, and it has been able to

form governments in the state in the past. In the 2019

general elections, the party won no seats in the Lok

Sabha.

An Indian political party is called the Aam Aadmi

Party. It was established in November 2012, in the

aftermath of the 2011 Indian anti-corruption

campaign, by Arvind Kejriwal and his associates. In

the Indian states of Punjab and Delhi union territory,

the Aam Aadmi Party is now in power. ECI formally

awarded AAP the title of National Party on April 10,

2023. Furthermore, India is home to a wide variety of

political parties, each with their own philosophies and

plans for the nation.(

Qarshiyev, N., 2003- Election

Commission grants national party status to AAP Dated

10.04.2023, The Hindu. India)

3 DISCUSSIONS

The main difference between political parties in

Uzbekistan and India is stratification. In Uzbekistan,

all 5 parties have the same opportunities with regards

to participating in political procedures as well as

election system. But Indian political parties are

divided into 3 groups including national, state and

unrecognized parties. Prior to the 2016 modification,

which went into effect on January 1, 2014, a political

party would lose its recognition if it did not meet the

requirements in the next Lok Sabha or state

legislative assembly election. The ECI said in 2016

that rather than occurring after each election, such a

review would occur after two consecutive elections.

As a result, even if a political party doesn't make the

cut in the upcoming election, it will still be

recognized as such. However, they would lose their

status if they didn't satisfy the requirements in the

election that followed the next election.

A registered party can only be considered a national

party if it satisfies any one of the following three

requirements:

 The party secures two percent of the Lok

Sabha seats from a minimum of three states.

 The party receives six percent of the votes in

any four or more states during a general

election to the Legislative Assembly or Lok

Sabha, and it also obtains four seats in the

Assembly.

 Four states recognize the party as a state

party.

A Comparative Political Analysis of Political Parties in Uzbekistan and India

957

A registered party is only recognized as a state party,

according to the Election Commission of India, if it

satisfies any one of the following five requirements:

 To gain at least two seats in the state

legislative assembly, a party must receive at

least 6% of the valid votes cast in the

election.

 To win at least one seat in the Lok Sabha, a

party must receive at least 6% of the valid

votes cast in the election.

 A party must get three seats in the

Legislative Assembly or three percent of the

total number of seats, whichever is higher.

 For every 25 seats in the Lok Sabha, or any

portion thereof, assigned to a state, a party

must win at least one seat.

 An additional clause under the liberalized

criteria states that it will be qualified for

state party recognition if it obtains eight

percent or more of the total valid votes cast

in the state.

The second difference has to do with religion. India

is a multi-religious country. In comparison with

Uzbekistan, there are 18 religious parties and several

regional parties in India such as The Indian Union

Muslim League, and Muslim League whereas there

are no religious parties in Uzbekistan.

4 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, political parties have played a crucial

role in shaping Uzbek and Indian democracy. In

conclusion, we can say that in Uzbekistan and India,

political parties are an important political institution

in ensuring the development of civil society, and there

are ample opportunities for their free functioning, and

full expression of the political will and interests of the

electorate. The political importance of a political

party is manifested directly in the process of elections

and the adoption of laws in the chambers of the Oliy

Majlis. And that it serves the democratic development

of our country, as well as the improvement of the

formation of a free civil society. In the words of

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev: "Regardless of which

party they belong to, the only and common goal that

unites all our compatriots is our beloved Uzbekistan,

its great future. This is the goal that calls us all to

serve our motherland faithfully". Today,

strengthening the activities of political parties in our

country has become one of the priorities of state

policy. The president always emphasizes the

importance of the role of non-governmental

organizations in the reform of all spheres of our

society, including the development of a free civil

society, and also sets priorities for supporting other

civil society institutions. A legal mechanism has been

created for the formation of state management bodies

of political parties and for monitoring their activities.

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