POLITICAL PARTIES
Meaning of political party
A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the
government.
Parties are about a part of the society and thus involve Partisanship.
Partisan: A person who is strongly committed to a party, group or faction. Partisanship is marked by a
tendency to take a side and inability to take a balanced view on an issue.
Components of political parties
(1) the leaders,
(2) the active members and
(3) the followers
Why do we need political parties?
We need political parties because they perform certain functions.
Functions
(1) Parties contest elections. Candidate fights election for party.
Different ways to select candidate
(i) In USA, members and supporters of a party choose its candidates.
(ii) In India, top party leaders choose candidates for contesting elections by giving party ticket.
(2) Parties put forward different policies and programmes.
(3) Parties play a decisive role in making laws for a country.
(4) Parties form and run governments. Parties recruit leaders, trains them and then make them ministers
to run the government in the way they want.
(5) Those parties that lose in the elections play the role of opposition to the parties in power, by voicing
different views and criticising government for its failures or wrong policies.
(6) Parties shape public opinion. They raise and highlight issues. Parties have lakhs of members and
activists spread all over the country.
(7) Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes implemented by
governments. For an ordinary citizen it is easy to approach a local party leader than a government officer.
Importance of political parties
In a country without political parties every candidate in the elections will be independent. The government
may be formed, but its utility will remain ever uncertain. Elected representative will be accountable to their
constituency for what they do in the locality. But no one will be responsible for how the country run.
How many parties should we have?
More than 750 parties are registered with the Election Commission of India.
In some countries only one party is allowed to control and run the government. These are called one-
party systems.
Example: In China, only the Communist Party is allowed to rule.
In some countries, power usually changes between two main parties. Such a party system is called two-
party system.
Example: The United States of America and the United Kingdom are examples of two-party system.
If several parties compete for power, and more than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to
power either on their own strength or in alliance with others, we call it amulti-party system.
Example: India
When several parties in a multi-party system join hands for the purpose of contesting elections and
winning power, it is called an alliance or a front.
Example: In India there were three such major alliances in 2004 parliamentary elections– the National
Democratic Alliance (NDA), the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the Left Front.
Several parties form government known as coalition government
India has evolved a multi-party system; it is because the social and geographical diversity in such a large
country is not easily absorbed by two or even three parties.
Popular participation in political parties
Based on sample survey a report:
(1) Political parties enjoy much trust among the people in South Asia than rest of the globe.
(2) Over the last three decades the proportion of those who report to be members of political parties in
India has gone up steadily.
Types of political parties
The Election Commission has laid down detailed criteria of the proportion of votes and seats that a party
must get in order to be a recognised party.
A party that secures at least six per cent of total votes in Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections in four
States and wins at least four seats in the Lok Sabha is recognized as a national party.
A party that secures at least 6 per cent 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.
According to this classification, there were six national recognised parties in the country in 2006.
NATIONAL PARTIES
(1) INC (Indian National Congress)
Founded – 1885
Ideology - Secularism and welfare of weaker sections and minorities
Currently leads the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition government at the Centre.
(2) BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)
Founded – 1980
Ideology - Cultural nationalism (or ‘Hindutva’)
Came to power in 1998 as the leader of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)
(3) BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party)
Founded – 1984, Founder- Kanshi Ram
Ideology - TO secure power for the bahujan samaj which includes the dalits, adivasis, OBCs and religious
minorities.
It has its main base in the state of Uttar Pradesh. In the Lok Sabha elections held in 2004, it polled about 5
per cent votes and secured 19 seats in the Lok Sabha.
(4) CPI-M (Communist Party of India – Marxist)
Founded – 1964
Ideology - Supports socialism, secularism and democracy and opposes imperialism and communalism.
Enjoys strong support in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura In 2004 elections, it won about 6 per cent of
votes and 43 seats in the Lok Sabha. Currently supports UPA government from outside.
(5) CPI (Communist Party of India)
Founded – 1925
Ideology - Believes in Marxism-Leninism, secularism and democracy.
Became weak after the split in the party in 1964 that led to the formation of the CPI(M). It
secured about 1.4 per cent votes and 10 seats in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. Currently supports UPA
government from outside.
(6) NCP (Nationalist Congress Party)
Founded – 1999
Ideology - Gandhian secularism, equity, social justice and federalism
A major party in Maharashtra. Since 2004, a member of the United Progressive Alliance
Important State / Regional Parties of India
S.N. Party State
1 Samajwadi Party Uttar Pradesh
2 National Conference Jammu and Kashmir
3 Rashtriya Janata Dal Bihar
4 Biju Janata Dal Odhisa
5 Forward Block West Bengal
6 Shiromani Akali Dal Punjab
7 Shiv Sena Maharashtra
8 Trinamool Congress West Bengal
9 Telgu Desham Party Andhara Pradesh
10 All India Anna DMK Tamil nadu
11 Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Tamil nadu
Problems of political parties
(1) The first challenge is lack of internal democracy within parties. One or few leaders exercise paramount
power in the party.
(2) The second challenge is of dynastic succession. In many parties, the top positions are always
controlled by members of one family.
(3) The third challenge is about the growing role of money and muscle power in parties, parties nominate
those candidates who have or can raise lots of money. In some cases, parties support criminals who can
win elections.
(4) The fourth challenge is that very often parties do not seem to offer a meaningful choice to the voters.
Example:
The difference between the Labour Party and the Conservative Party in Britain is very little. They agree on
more fundamental aspects but differ only in details on how policies are to be framed and implemented.
How can parties be reformed?
Anti-defection law: The Constitution was amended to prevent elected MLAs and MPs from changing
parties. This was done because many elected representatives were indulging in DEFECTION in order to
become ministers or for cash rewards.
Other suggestions:
A law should be made to regulate the internal affairs of political parties. For example parties hold open
elections to the highest posts.
It should be made mandatory for political parties to give a minimum number of tickets, about one-third, to
women candidates.
There should be state funding of elections. The government should give parties money to support their
election expenses. This support could be given in kind: petrol, paper, telephone etc.
People can put pressure on political parties. This can be done through petitions, publicity and agitations.
