All said and done, the ghost of small states doesn’t leave the Indian Republic, in its 60th threshold. Is the government of India’s announcement on December 9 last year to create Telangana – part of an idea that can lead to  a Second Republic…In common parlance a republic is a state that does not practice direct democracy but rather has a government indirectly controlled by the people. Its known as representative republic. States were created and Indian constitution proclaimed India as a Republic. It also facilitated norms for the creation of new states. There were demands for at least 10 more new states including Telangana, Gorkhaland, Vidarbha, Bundelkhand, Mithalanchal, Harit Pradesh and Kutch-Saurashtra. Creation of many new states in the country can signify the first stage of building the Second Republic.

Second Leading to the Third..
Such situation initiates an overhaul of the distribution of powers between the Centre and the state. This overhaul needs creation of a third level of government -local self governments at the district level. These ideas set into motion, would, of course, take years to be finally implemented.It will be long before a consensus is reached and the concerns of all stake holders satisfactorily answered.The idea of Second Republic has its reasons from its supporters. Though overall the growth and  development pattern of India in the last sixty years has been satisfactory and impressive in parts, it is being felt that there are substantial regional imbalances and disparities. A significant part of Indians live below the poverty level. Also corruption has permeated India’s political life. It made governance an increasingly different proposition. All this -and other reasons – has led to a “have not” syndrome in many parts of the country. This found expression, among other ways, by demands for more states.The increasing dispossession of tribals in their heartland in central India is also leading to increased strength of Maoists in these areas. It is felt that smaller states will bring governance closer to the people.

Congress Vs Regional Parties
It makes good political sense for Congress to opt for a Second Republic, that entails more states in the country, redistribution of powers between the Centre and the state and devolution of powers to the local level. At the end of 58 years of Parliamentary democracy, the Congress party finds itself as the only national party in the country There was a rise of opposition parties in 70’s but with the conclusion of the 2009 election saw the decreasing influence of the BJP.  Congress party is back to its position of being the sole national party in India. Along with the Congress, a galaxy of small regional parties like the BSP, DMK, AIDMK, Trinamool Congress and TDP shine on the political scene.These parties  influence is confined to one single state and even the CPM is restricted to two states. At the national level, there can be a serious challenge to the Congress only if the regional parties can combine together and weld themselves into a homogeneous group. But going by past experience, the prospects for this are remote.

Republic’an Help
In this situation with changes in the structure of the Republic, the Congress can maintain its authority at the Centre, almost permanently. The creation of a third level of government at the district level – would mean the transfer of power away from state governments. This will dis-empower regional parties  and lead to creation of many sub-regional parties at district levels. This will strengthen the national government at the cost of the state governments also. In the long run, it could lead to a US type of government, with  – President or Prime Minister being directly elected. Eventually the creation of Second Republic will lead to a Third Republic.