Synopsis The evolution of political parties and party systems in the world’s largest, most complex and volatile democracy reached a crucial stage at the turn of the century: The three general elections held in quick succession at the end of the nineties threw up three major trends; the decline of the Congress Party as the dominant pan-national party; the emergence of a ‘federalised’ party structure and coalition politics; and the apparent demise of the ‘Third Front as a force in national politics. This topical collection of original essays by eminent scholars drawn from diverse disciplines examines these wide-ranging changes in political parties- their leadership, ideological profile, support base and programmatic content- as well as in the texture of the party system in the country. In understanding these complex processes, this volume provides a comparative framework by bringing in the experiences of Germany and the European Union, which are also undergoing political transformation. Overall, this volume provides an incisive and comprehensive analysis of the far-reaching changes in both party systems and electoral behavior that have occurred at the end of the twentieth century.