ABSTRACT
The nature of parliamentary membership has undergone significant transformations since independence. The changing profile of the Indian Parliament is a story of evolution of parliamentary democracy. It is an account of the redefinition of individual and institutional goals determined by the rapid politicization of the society. It reflects the increasing democratization of democratic institutions as well as the constraints that emerge out of the limits to the process of democratization. The new parliamentary leadership that has emerged has re-conceptualized the goals of Parliament from being largely a deliberative, national institution to a multifunctional institution that reflects the political dynamics at local, state and national level. It has also redefined roles of individual members of parliament with a heightened focus on ‘acting as representative.’ This has had an impact on both the form and substance of parliamentary functioning. Parliamentary function has increasing become more disruptive and chaotic on the one hand and more reflective of dynamics of Indian democracy on the other hand. The parliamentary elite has failed to adequately use the democratic space that the Parliament provides due the limited role that they have conceptualized for themselves. The Parliament’s role in Indian democracy has been restricted to that of influencing the principal actors, rather than a taking a proactive role in setting the democratic agenda.
