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Political Parties PDF

Political parties are groups that represent certain ideologies and interests in government. They put forward policies, contest elections to form the government, help shape public opinion, and allow people to access government resources. India has a multi-party system with national parties like the Indian National Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party, as well as many state-specific regional parties. However, political parties face challenges like a lack of internal democracy, money and criminal influence in elections, and not providing meaningful differences in policies. Reforms are needed like stricter anti-defection laws and greater transparency in funding.

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Harmeet Singh
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173 views4 pages

Political Parties PDF

Political parties are groups that represent certain ideologies and interests in government. They put forward policies, contest elections to form the government, help shape public opinion, and allow people to access government resources. India has a multi-party system with national parties like the Indian National Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party, as well as many state-specific regional parties. However, political parties face challenges like a lack of internal democracy, money and criminal influence in elections, and not providing meaningful differences in policies. Reforms are needed like stricter anti-defection laws and greater transparency in funding.

Uploaded by

Harmeet Singh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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CIVICS POLITICAL PARTIES

Political Parties
Meaning and Functions of a Political Party
A political party is a group of individuals who come together on a common platform. They largely have
similar ideas and a common goal. Members of a political party contest elections in order to form the
government at the state or at the centre. Political parties try to win the support of people by convincing
them on why their policies are better than other parties. A political party has three components—leaders,
active members and followers.
A political party performs many functions in a democracy.

Put forward
different policies Contest
and programmes elections

Play a decisive role


in formulating laws
of the country Shape public
Functions of Political opinion
Parties

Form and run the


Help people to
government at
access government
different levels
machinery and
Parties which lose the welfare schemes
elections play the role
of opposition

 Political parties are required. If there are no political parties, then independent candidates would win
the elections. Independent candidates may be able to manage their constituencies, but they would not
be able to govern the entire country effectively because each candidate will have his/her own interests
and set of beliefs.
 Each section of society chooses its representatives to represent its interests.
 Political parties also play the same role. Thus, democratic countries have political parties. The rise of
political parties may be traced back to the emergence of representative democracy. As societies are
large, they elect their own representatives to represent their interests. Representatives of the parties
come together to form the government.

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CIVICS POLITICAL PARTIES

Party System
The number of political parties differs from country to country.
One-party system: The formation of political parties is generally banned in countries which are ruled by
dictators. Only the party to which the dictator belongs is allowed to exist. Such countries have a one-party
system. For example, in China, only the Communist Party of China is allowed to contest the elections.

Bi-party system: In many countries, though many parties exist, only two parties have serious chances of
winning the majority of seats in the Parliament. Other parties win only a handful of seats in the national
legislatures. Thus, countries with two main parties contesting the elections have a bi-party system; for
example, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Multi-party system: When several parties exist in a country and each has the capability of forming the
government either on its own or in alliance with other parties, the country has a multi-party system. India
has a multi-party system. In such a system, if many political parties come together and join hands for
contesting the elections and forming a government, they are known as an alliance or a front. While on one
hand, the multi-party system may lead to political instability in the country, on the other, the system allows
the representation of a variety of interests and public opinions.

Political Parties in India


In India, every party has to get itself registered with the Election Commission. The latter gives a symbol to
the political party. A political party which has a nationwide presence and which secures at least six
percent of the total votes in the Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in at least four states and wins
at least four seats in the Lok Sabha is recognised as a national party.
A political party which secures at least six percent of the total votes in an election to the Legislative
Assembly of a state and wins at least two seats is recognised as a state party.

National Parties in India


Name of the Year of Basic Ideologies Symbol
Party Foundation
Indian National 1885 (the party Endorses secular principles
Congress has split many Aims at the welfare of weaker sections and minority
times) communities

Bharatiya Janata 1980 Seeks complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir with
Party India
Believes in cultural nationalism (Hindutva) and uniform
civil code for all people
Bahujan Samaj 1984 Champions the cause of the dalits, adivasis and OBCs
Party

Communist Party 1964 Believes in the principles of socialism, Marxism,


of India-Marxist Leninism, secularism and democracy
(CPI-M)

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CIVICS POLITICAL PARTIES

Communist Party 1925 Believes in Marxism–Leninism, secularism and


of India (CPI) democracy

Nationalist 1999 Believes in democracy, equity, social justice and


Congress Party federalism

State Parties in India


List of major state parties in India:
 Samajwadi Party (largely present in Uttar Pradesh)
 Rashtriya Janata Dal (Bihar)
 Trinamool Congress (West Bengal)
 Biju Janata Dal (Odisha)
 Sikkim Democratic Front (Sikkim)
 National Conference (Jammu and Kashmir)
 Peoples Democratic Party (Jammu and Kashmir)
 DMK (Tamil Nadu)
 AIADMK (Tamil Nadu)

Challenges to Political Parties


Main challenges faced by political parties in India are
 Lack of internal democracy: There is a lack of internal democracy within the political parties. Most of
the parties do not keep membership registers and do not conduct elections regularly. Dynastic
succession does not allow a deserving candidate to rise to a position of leadership.
 Money and muscle power: Because the main aim of the political party is to win an election, many
candidates who could raise a lot of money are nominated. Influential and wealthy party members
exercise greater control over party politics. Parties have also become corrupt.
 Lack of meaningful choice: Most of the parties do not offer meaningful choices to the people.
Fundamental differences among the parties have reduced.

How Can Parties be Reformed?


Political parties can be reformed in the following ways:
 A law to prevent the defection of a party member in hope of money and power was passed in the
Parliament. It is necessary to strictly follow this law.
 An order has been passed requiring candidates contesting the elections to declare their assets and
criminal charges pending against them. This was done to reduce the influence of money and criminals
in parties. This law also needs to be strictly followed.
 Every political party should regularly hold organisational elections and file income tax returns.
 It should be made mandatory for political parties to give at least one-third of the party’s tickets to
women candidates.
 Elections should be funded by the state.
Many suggestions have not been accepted by political parties; thus, it is important for the public to
organise protests and rallies to demand the passing of laws to this effect. The functioning of political
parties can be further improved if the people who support these changes join the parties.

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