On the Periphery but in the Thick of It: Some Recent Indian Political Crises Viewed from Gujarat

Indian politics in the past few years has often presented a complex and turbulent picture that bedevils analysis, let alone prediction. Observers have struggled to explain crises and paradoxes including impressive ascents to leadership and falls from power, surprising tactical moves, and rapid shifts in party or factional advantage. Some might argue that this is all "business as usual" for India and that beyond any day's startling headlines Indian political life is quite routine. Many would admit, however, that during the first half of the 1990s they were frequently uncertain about where and how the next dramatic developments would occur.