Advocacy for Party-less Democracy in India

The question asks to identify the Indian political leader who advocated for a system of 'party-less democracy'. This concept envisions a political structure where governance and decision-making occur without the formal participation or dominance of traditional political parties.

Analysis of Leaders and Their Political Ideologies

Let's analyze the viewpoints of the leaders mentioned in the options:

• M.N. Roy: M.N. Roy was a proponent of Radical Humanism. While his philosophy emphasized individual freedom and rationalism, leading to ideas of decentralized power, he is not primarily known for advocating a specific 'party-less democracy' model in the way the question implies for the correct answer.

• Acharya Vinoba Bhave: Acharya Vinoba Bhave, a key follower of Mahatma Gandhi, focused on the Sarvodaya movement and concepts like Bhoodan (land-gift). His work aimed at social and spiritual transformation through voluntary action and community self-reliance. While his vision involved decentralization and grassroots participation, it wasn't centered on a formal 'party-less democracy' political structure.

• Jawaharlal Nehru: As the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru played a crucial role in establishing India's parliamentary democracy, which is inherently a multi-party system. He believed in the necessity of political parties for representing diverse interests and facilitating democratic processes.

• Jayaprakash Narayan: Jayaprakash Narayan, often referred to as JP, is strongly associated with the concept of 'party-less democracy'. In his later political career, especially during the 1970s, he criticized the existing party system for its perceived failures and corruption. He proposed a system rooted in Gram Sabhas (village assemblies) as the basic unit of political power, envisioning a decentralized structure where citizens participate directly in governance. This vision is often described as 'party-less democracy' or 'people's democracy', forming a key part of his call for 'Total Revolution'.

Conclusion

Jayaprakash Narayan is recognized for his significant advocacy and articulation of the idea of a party-less democracy as an alternative political framework for India, emphasizing grassroots participation and decentralization.