The concept of the "Second Democratic Upsurge" was proposed by Rajni Kothari, a prominent Indian political scientist and scholar. Kothari coined this term to describe the resurgence of grassroots democratic movements in India during the 1970s, which challenged established political structures and brought about significant changes in the country's political landscape. His work highlighted the importance of decentralized, participatory democracy and the empowerment of marginalized groups in Indian politics.

Yogendra Yadav, a noted Indian academic, political scientist, and former member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has also contributed significantly to the understanding and analysis of the concept of the "Second Democratic Upsurge." Yadav has extensively studied grassroots democratic movements in India and has written about their significance in contemporary Indian politics.

While Rajni Kothari originally coined the term "Second Democratic Upsurge" to describe the resurgence of grassroots democratic movements in the 1970s, Yogendra Yadav has further developed and expanded upon this concept in his research and writings. Yadav has explored how these movements have evolved over time and their impact on Indian democracy, governance, and political participation.

Yadav's work emphasizes the role of civil society organizations, social movements, and grassroots mobilization in deepening democracy and fostering social change in India. He has highlighted the importance of decentralization, citizen participation, and bottom-up approaches to governance as key elements of the Second Democratic Upsurge.

Rajni Kothari originated the concept of the "Second Democratic Upsurge," Yogendra Yadav has contributed significantly to its development and elaboration through his research, writings, and advocacy for grassroots democracy in India.

Rajni Kothari introduced the concept of the "Second Democratic Upsurge" in his influential work titled "State Against Democracy: In Search of Humane Governance." Published in 1988, this book explores the dynamics of democracy and governance in India, particularly focusing on the challenges posed by the state's relationship with society and the role of grassroots democratic movements in shaping Indian politics.

Yogendra Yadav observes shift in changing participation of different social groups in terms of democratic upsurge. He divides this upsurge into two phases: phase of first democratic upsurge; second phase of democratic upsurge. The first democratic upsurge indicated the rise of backward classes during the 1960s-1970s, and the second democratic upsurge shows the increasing participation of Dalits. This has been due to the effective role played by the caste organizations.