Anti-incumbency
Topic: Recent Developments in Indian Politics: Coalitions, Mandal and a New Consensus · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Anti-incumbency means voters turn against a sitting government or representative. The "incumbent" is whoever currently holds office. Anger over unmet promises, scandals or poor delivery builds up during the term, and voters punish it at the next election. It is not a law or a rule. It is a pattern in how voters behave. In India it has been a recurring feature of elections since 1989.
Example
In 1989 the Congress fell from 415 seats to 197. The Bofors controversy had damaged the Rajiv Gandhi government during its term.
Don't confuse with
- No-confidence motion: this is a vote inside the Lok Sabha that can remove a government during its term. Anti-incumbency works through voters at the next election.