Volume : 5, Issue : 7, July - 2016

OPPOSITION IN ASSAM LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: AN ANALYSIS FROM 1990 to 2011

Dhiraj Kr. Das

Abstract :

<p>&nbsp;A strong opposition is essential for proper functioning of democracy in the parliamentary type of government. Democracy is a government of the people and not of the majority only. It exists not for the interest of the majority but for the people as a whole. The ruling party by virtue of their majority may overlook this principle and forget the people, but they are reminded of it by the existence of an opposition. The opposition acts as a watch-dog, observes the activities of the government and whenever it finds them working undemocratically or acting against the interest of the people, ings the government into the right track through criticism, expressing protest and dissension. The government cannot go unidled and unchecked if there is an organized and alert opposition. The opposition points out the weakness of the administration; it also offers constructive suggestions to modify defective programmes of the government. Existence of an organized opposition has also its importance to make the government responsible. It has been observed that the problems of opposition in Assam Legislative Assembly are major in present time. In the present study it is proposed to carry out an intensive investigation to understand the role and problems of opposition in Assam Legislative Assembly (hereinafter to be the ALA). In Assam, the opposition has not succeeded in making its impact felt in a worthwhile manner inside and outside the Assembly. Importance of the opposition in parliamentary democracy is yet to be realized by the people at large. For their part the opposition parties have not contributed significantly to secure such realization through political education of the electorate. Parties generally come closer to the electorate in times of general elections. Mass organisations are not that strong which could maintain close liason with sections of the people at every major step in their life&rsquo;s activities.</p>