Book project

Performing Democracy: Representation and Questioning in the Indian Parliament

Why do legislators in strong-party, patronage-based democracies invest time and effort in legislative functions that appear institutionally weak and politically marginal? In systems marked by executive dominance, limited party autonomy, and constrained legislative agenda-setting, conventional accounts portray MPs as electoral brokers who prioritize constituency service and clientelist exchange over formal lawmaking. Yet, legislators in these constrained environments continue to engage actively with parliamentary procedures. What motivates this engagement when the executive monopolizes agenda-setting power and legislative influence is minimal?

To answer this question, I focus on Question Time, a nearly ubiquitous practice across parliaments worldwide. Unlike in programmatic democracies, where questioning serves as a mechanism for policy oversight, or in autocracies, where it channels public grievances, I argue that in patronage-based systems like India, legislative questioning functions primarily as a performative tool of representation. When formal influence over policy outcomes is limited, legislative participation becomes a form of strategic political communication. MPs use questioning to appeal to multiple audiences: the government, to draw attention to specific issues; party elites, to signal competence; and constituents, to showcase responsiveness and activity. These performances are amplified through traditional media, television broadcasts, and increasingly, social media platforms extending their reach beyond the parliamentary floor. For some, these performances matter more than others. MPs facing competitive elections, lacking ministerial or party leadership roles, or seeking to build personal political brands are more likely to use questioning as a strategic tool. In contrast, those embedded in secure patronage networks or holding prominent positions may see limited value in public oversight. Thus, decision to participate is shaped by political incentives and institutional positioning.

The arguments advanced in this book are grounded in both quantitative and qualitative data. I analyze over 300,000 questions posed in the Indian Parliament from 1999 to 2019 along with qualitative insights drawn from in- depth, semi-structured interviews with legislative aides, parliamentarians, and parliamentary watchdogs. By analyzing both who participates and what they choose to ask, I offer a lens for understanding how representation, reputation, and responsiveness are constructed when formal power is constrained but visibility remains politically valuable.