Correct option is B
Assertion (A):
"Political parties have continued to remain in the centre of Indian politics."
This statement is true. Political parties play a central role in Indian politics, as they are the primary vehicles for political representation, policy formulation, and governance. Elections in India are largely fought on party lines, and parties dominate the political landscape.
Reason (R):
"Opinion polls in India have repeatedly shown that people generally vote more for the party than for the candidate."
This statement is also true. In India, voters often prioritize the party over individual candidates when casting their votes. This is due to the strong party system, where party ideology, leadership, and policies influence voter behavior more than the individual qualities of candidates.
Relationship Between (A) and (R):
While both (A) and (R) are true, the reason provided in (R) does not fully explain why political parties remain central to Indian politics. The centrality of political parties in Indian politics is due to a combination of factors, including the party system, electoral laws, and the role of parties in governance and policy-making. While voter preference for parties over candidates (as stated in R) is a contributing factor, it is not the sole or primary explanation for the central role of political parties.