POLITICAL PARTIES

● Political parties are one of the most visible

institutions in a democracy.

● For the ordinary citizens, democracy is equal to

political parties.

● Parties have become identified because of

social and political divisions.
 Why is it important to know the nature
and working of political parties?

In remote parts of our country the less

educated people are ignorant about our
Constitution or about the nature of our
govt.

But there is a fair chance that they know

something about the political parties.
MEANING OF POLITICAL
PARTIES
 Political Parties

1. A political party is a group of people who come

together to contest elections and hold power in the
government.

2. Political party agree on some policies &

programmes for the society with a view to promote
collective good.

3. Parties try to persuade people why their policies

are are better than others.

4. They seek to implement these policies by winning

popular support through elections.
 Political parties reflect fundamental political
divisions in a society. Parties are about a part of
the society and thus involve PARTISANSHIP.

Thus a party is known by which part it stands for,

which policies it supports and whose interests it
upholds.

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

Leader

Active
Followers
Members
Which is an essential element of a political
party?

A. Organisation

B. National Interest

C. Fundamental principles

D. All of these
FUNCTIONS OF POLITICAL
PARTIES
In most democracies, elections are
fought mainly among the candidates
put up by political parties.

Parties select their candidates in 1. Parties contest elections

different ways.

In some countries, such as the USA,

members and supporters of a party
choose its candidates. Now more and
more countries are following this
method.

In other countries like India, top party

leaders choose candidates for
contesting elections.
Each of us may have different opinions and
views on what policies are suitable for the
society.

But no government can handle such a large

variety of views.
2. Parties put forward different policies
In a democracy, a large number of similar and programmes & the voters choose
opinions have to be grouped together to from them
provide a direction in which policies can be
formulated by the governments. This is what
the parties do.

A party reduces a vast multitude of opinions

into a few basic positions which it supports. A
government is expected to base its policies on
the line taken by the RULING PARTY.
Formally, laws are debated and
passed in the legislature.

But since most of the members

belong to a party, they go by the 3. Parties play a decisive role in making
direction of the party leadership,
laws for a country
irrespective of their personal
opinions

4. Parties form and run governments

The major policy decisions are taken
by political executive that comes
from the political parties.

Parties recruit leaders, train them

and then make them ministers to run
the government in the way they want.
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 5. Parties play a role of opposition
failures or wrong policies.

Opposition parties also mobilise

opposition to the government.
They raise and highlight issues.
Parties have lakhs of members and
activists spread all over the country.

Many of the pressure groups are the

extensions of political parties among
different sections of society.
6. Parties shape public opinion
Parties sometimes also launch
movements for the resolution of
problems faced by people.

Often opinions in the society

crystallise on the lines parties take.
For an ordinary citizen it is easy
to approach a local party leader
than a government officer.

That is why, they feel close to

parties even when they do not 7. Parties provide people access to
fully trust them. government machinery and welfare
schemes implemented by governments
Parties have to be responsive to
people’s needs and demands.
Otherwise people can reject
those parties in the next
elections.
NECESSITY OF POLITICAL
PARTIES
Why modern democracies cannot exist without
political parties?

Without existence of parties, following situations

may arise:

Every candidate in the elections will be independent.

So no one will be able to make any promises to the
people about any major policy changes.

The government may be formed, but its utility will

remain ever uncertain.

Elected representatives will be accountable to their

constituency for what they do in the locality. But no
one will be responsible for how the country will be
run.
● We can also think about it by looking at the
non-party based elections to the panchayat in
many states.

● Although, the parties do not contest formally, it

is generally noticed that the village gets split into
more than one faction, each of which puts up a
‘panel’ of its candidates.

● This is exactly what the party does.

● That is the reason we find political parties in

almost all countries of the world, whether these
countries are big or small, old or new, developed
or developing
➔ The rise of political parties is directly linked to the
emergence of representative democracies.

➔ Large societies need representative democracy.

➔ They need some ways to bring various

representatives together so that a responsible
government could be formed.

➔ They need a mechanism to support or restrain the

government, make policies, justify or oppose them.

➔ Political parties fulfill these needs that every

representative government has.
 HOW MANY POLITICAL
PARTIES SHOULD WE HAVE?
 ONE-PARTY SYSTEM
We cannot consider one-party system as a good
option because this is not a democratic option.

● Any democratic system must allow at least two

parties to compete in elections and provide a
fair chance for the competing parties to come
to power.

Only one party is allowed to

control and run the
government.

China has one-party system,

i.e., Communist Party.
 TWO-PARTY SYSTEM

● Power usually changes between two

main parties.

● Several other parties may exist,

contest elections and win a few
seats in the national legislatures.
But only the two main parties have a
serious chance of winning majority
of seats to form government.

● Example: USA & UK.

 MULTI-PARTY SYSTEM

● 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.

● Example: India & France.

● In this system, the government is

formed by various parties coming
together in a Coalition.
 COALITION GOVERNMENT

It is a government run by group of

parties in coordination with one
another. In this multiple political party
cooperate, reducing dominance of any
one party within that ‘coalition’.
● 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.

● For example, in India there were 3 major alliances in

2004 parliamentary elections:

➔ The National Democratic Alliance,

➔ The United Progressive Alliance &

➔ The Left Front

 COALITION
ALLIANCE
GOVERNMENT

When no single
When several
party gets a
parties join hands
majority in the
for the purpose of
election and the
contesting
government is
elections, it is called
formed by two or
an alliance or a
more parties
front, e.g. the
coming together, it
National
is referred to as a
Democratic
coalition
Alliance.
government.
 Formation of Political Parties

➔ Party system is not something any country

The multiparty system often can choose.
appears very messy and
leads to political instability. ➔ It evolves over a long time, depending on
the nature of society, its social and
regional divisions, its history of politics
At the same time, this system and its system of elections.
allows a variety of interests
and opinions to enjoy
political representation. ➔ For example: If India has evolved a
multiparty system, it is because the social
and geographical diversity in such a large
country is not easily absorbed by two or
even three parties. No system is ideal for
all countries and all situations.
 Which of the following countries have
bi-party system?

A. United Kingdom and Belgium

B. United Kingdom and United States of

America

C. United States of America and Canada

D. All of the above

POPULAR PARTICIPATION IN
POLITICAL PARTIES
Are political parties facing a crisis?

Are they unpopular and the citizens are

indifferent to political parties?

The available evidence shows that this

belief is only partly true for India.
The evidence, based on a series of large sample
surveys conducted over several decades, shows
that: Over the last three decades the
proportion of those who report to
be members of political parties in
India has gone up steadily.
● Political parties do not enjoy much
trust among the people in South
Asia. The proportion of those who
say their trust in political parties is
‘not much’ or ‘not at all’ is more than
those who have ‘some’ or ‘great’
trust.

● Yet the level of participation in the

activities of political parties was
fairly high. The proportion of those The proportion of those who say
who said they were members of they feel ‘close to a political party’
some political party was higher in has also gone up in India in this
India than many advanced
countries like Canada, Japan, Spain
period.
and South Korea.
TYPES OF POLITICAL PARTIES
Democracies that follow a federal system all over the
world tend to have two kinds of political parties:

Parties that are present in only

one of the federal units

Parties that are present in several or

all units of the federation

This is the case in India as well.

Every party in the country has to register
with the Election Commission.

But some parties are special.

Parties that get the privilege of having a

unique symbol that only their official
candidates can use and some other special
facilities are known as ‘recognised’ political
parties.

Types :

● National Parties
● State Parties
 NATIONAL PARTIES

1. There are some countrywide parties,

which are called ‘national parties’.

2. These parties have their units in

various states.

3. But by and large, all these units

follow the same policies, programmes
and strategy that is decided at the
national level.
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

STATE PARTY:

- A party that secures at least 6% of the total votes

in an election to the Legislative Assembly of a State;
and

- Wins at least 2 seats is recognised as a State

party.

NATIONAL PARTY:

- A party that secures at least 6% of the total votes

in the Lok Sabha elections or assembly elections in
4 states; and

- Wins at least 4 seats in the Lok Sabha.

NATIONAL PARTIES
 Leftist Rightist
- More liberal in its - More conservative
approach and in approach and
outlook. outlook.

- Characterized by - Characterized by
an emphasis on ideas of authority,
equality, fraternity, hierarchy, tradition,
progress, and and nationalism
reform.
According to this classification, there
were 7 recognised national parties in
the country in 2019.
All India Trinamool Congress
(AITC)
● Launched on 1 January 1998, under
leadership of Mamta Banerjee.

● Recognised as national party in 2016.

● The party’s symbol is flowers & grass.

● Committed to secularism & federalism.

● Has been in power in West Bengal since 2011.

● Presence- Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and

Tripura.

● In the General Elections held in 2019, it got

4.07% votes, and won 22 seats, making it the
4th largest party in Lok Sabha.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)

● Formed in 1984 under the leadership of Kanshi Ram.

● Seeks to represent bahujan samaj which includes the

dalits, adivasis, OBCs and religious minorities.

● Draws inspiration from the ideas and teachings of

Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, Periyar Ramaswami
Naicker and Babasaheb Ambedkar.

● Stands for the cause of securing the interests and

welfare of the dalits and oppressed people.

● It has main base in the state of Uttar Pradesh and

substantial presence in neighbouring states like MP,
Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Punjab. Formed
govt in UP several times by taking the support of
different times.

● In the Lok Sabha elections held in 2019- it polled

about 3.63% votes & secured 10 seats in the Lok
Sabha.
Communist Party India (CPI)

● Formed in 1925, believes in Marxism Leninism,

secularism and democracy.

● Accepts parliamentary democracy as a means

of promoting the interests of the working class,
farmers and the poor.

● Became weak after the split in the party in 1964

that led to the formation of CPI( M).

● SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE: Kerala, West Bengal,

Punjab, Andhra Pradesh & Tamil Nadu.

● It support base had gradually decline over the

years. It secured less than 1% both and two
seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

● Advocates the coming together of all left

parties to build a strong left front.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

● Founded in 1980 by reviving the erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh formed by Syama Prasad
Mukherjee in 1951.

● Wants to build a strong and modern India by drawing inspiration from India’s ancient culture
& values; & Deendayal Upadhyaya’s ideas of integral humanism and Antyodaya.

● Cultural nationalism (or ‘Hindutva’) is an important element in its conception of Indian

nationhood and politics.

● Wants full territorial and political integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India, a uniform
civil code for all people living in the country irrespective of religion, and ban on religious
conversions.

● Its support increases greatly in 1990s. Earlier limited to north and west and to urban areas,
the party expanded its support in the south, east, the north-east and to rural areas.

● Came to power in 1998 as the leader of NDA including several regional parties.

● Emerged as the largest party with 303 members in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Currently leads
the ruling NDA government at the Centre.
Communist Party India Marxist (CPI-M)

● Founded in 1964, believes in Marxism Leninism. secularism and democracy

● Supports socialism, secularism and democracy and opposes imperialism and

communalism.

● Accepts democratic elections as a useful and helpful means for securing the objective
of socio-economic justice in India.

● Enjoys strong support in West Bengal, Kerala & Tripura, especially among the poor, factory
workers, farmers, agricultural labourers and the intelligentsia.

● Critical of new economic policies that allow free flow of foreign capital and goods into the
country.

● Was in power in West Bengal without break for 34 years. in 2019 Lok Sabha elections it won
1.75% of votes at three seats.
 Indian National Congress (INC)

● Popularly known as Congress Party. One of the oldest parties of the world, founded in 1885,
that has experienced many splits.

● Under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru the party sought to build a modern secular
democratic republic in India.

● Ruling party at the centre till 1977 and then from 1980 to 1989. After 1989, its support declined,
but it continues to be present throughout the country, cutting across social divisions.

A centrist party (neither rightist nor leftist) in its ideological orientation, the party espouses
secularism and welfare of weaker sections and minorities.

● It supports new economic reforms but with a human face.

● Leader of UPA government from 2004 to 2019. In 2019 Lok Sabha election it won 19.5% votes
and 52 seats.
 Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)

● Formed in 1999 following a split in the Congress

party.

● Supports democracy, Gandhian secularism, equity,

social justice and federalism.

● Wants that high offices in government be confined

to natural born citizens of the country.

● Major Party: Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Manipur &

Assam.

● A coalition partner in the state of Maharashtra in

alliance with the Congress.

● Since 2004, a member of the UPA.

● In 2019, Lok Sabha election it won 1.4% votes & 5

seats.
Which political party does this
symbol belong to?

A. Communist Party of India

B. Bharatiya Janata Party

C. Bahujan Samaj Party

D. Communist Party of India Marxist

STATE PARTIES
REGIONAL PARTIES / STATE PARTIES

Other than these 7 parties, most of the major

parties of the country are classified by Election
Commission as a ‘State Parties’.

Yet these parties need not be regional in their

ideology or outlook.
 REGIONAL PARTIES

● Parties like the Samajwadi Party and

Rashtriya Janata Dal have national
level political organisation with units
in several states.

● Some of these parties like Biju

Janata Dal, Sikkim Democratic Front,
Mizo NAtional Front and Telangana
Rashtra Samithi are conscious about
their State identity.
Recent Changes :

● The number & strength of these parties has

expanded.

● Parliament of India politically more and more

diverse.

● No one national party is able to secure on its

own a majority in the Lok Sabha, until 2014. As a
result, the national parties are compelled to
form alliances with State parties.

● Sine 1996, nearly every one of the State parties

has got an opportunity to be a part of one or
the other national level coalition government.

● This has contributed to the strengthening of

federalism and democracy in our country.
CHALLENGES TO POLITICAL
PARTIES
 1st Challenge- Lack of Internal Democracy
within parties

Concentration of power in one

or few leaders at the top.

Parties do not keep membership registers, do

not hold organisational meetings, and do not
conduct internal elections regularly.

Ordinary members of
the party do not get
sufficient information on
what happens inside the
party.
 One or few leaders exercise paramount
power in the party and those who disagree
with the leadership find it difficult to
continue in the party.

More than loyalty to party principles and

policies, personal loyalty to the leader
becomes more important.
2nd Challenge- Dynastic Succession

In many parties, the top positions are always

controlled by members of one family.

This is unfair to other members of that

party.

This is also bad for democracy, since

people who do not have adequate
experience or popular support come to
occupy positions of power.
Berlusconi was the
Prime Minister of Italy. 3rd Challenge- Growing role of money and muscle
He is also one of the power in parties, especially during elections.
top businessmen in
Italy. He is the leader of
the Forza Italia
founded in 1993. His
❏ Since parties are focussed only on winning
company owns TV
elections, they tend to use shortcuts to win
channels, the most
elections.
important publishing
company, a foot ball ❏ They tend to nominate those candidates
club (AC Milan) and a who have or can raise lots of money.
bank. This cartoon was
made during the last ❏ Rich people and companies who give funds
elections. to the parties tend to have influence on the
policies and decisions of the party.

❏ In some cases, parties support criminals

who can win elections.

Berlusconi Puppet Theatre

 4th Challenge- Lack of meaningful choices to
voters

In recent years there has been a decline in the

ideological differences among parties in most
parts of the world.

For 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
In our country too, the differences
among all the major parties on
the economic policies have
reduced.

Sometimes people cannot even

elect very different leaders either,
because the same set of leaders
keep shifting from one party to
another.
Who among the following is the founder of the
Bahujan Samaj Party ?

A. Jyotiba Phule

B. Sahu Maharaj

C. Mahatma Gandhi

D. Kanshi Ram
HOW CAN PARTIES BE
REFORMED?
In order to face these challenges, political parties
need to be reformed.

Anti-Defection Law

The Constitution was amended to prevent elected MLAs

and MPs from changing parties (defection)

LAWS SAYS: If any MLA or MP changes parties, he or

she will lose the seat in the legislature. This new law has
helped bring defection down.

DEFECTION

Changing party allegiance from the party on which a person

got elected (to a legislative body) to a different party.
Details of Property & Criminal Cases

➔ The Supreme Court passed an order to reduce the

influence of money and criminals.

➔ Now, it is mandatory for every candidate who

contests elections to file an AFFIDAVIT giving details
of his property and criminal cases pending against
him. The new system has made a lot of information
available to the public.

➔ But there is no system of check if the information

given by the candidates is true.

AFFIDAVIT

A signed document
submitted to an officer,
where a person makes a
sworn statement regarding
her personal information.
 File an Income Tax Return

➔ The Election Commission passed an order

making it necessary for political parties to
hold their organisational elections and file
their income tax returns.
OTHER SUGGESTIONS TO REFORM
THE POLITICAL PARTIES
1. A law should be made to regulate
the internal affairs of political
parties.

It should be made compulsory for

political parties:

- to maintain a register of its

members,

- to follow its own constitution,

- to have an independent
authority,

- to act as a judge in case of party

disputes,

- to hold open elections to the

highest posts.
2. To give a minimum number of tickets,
about one-third, to women candidates.

Similarly, there should be a quota for women in

the decision making bodies of the party.

3. 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.

Or it could be given in cash on the basis of the

votes secured by the party in the last election.
Over-regulation of political parties
can be counterproductive.

This would force all parties to find

ways to cheat the law.

Besides, political parties will not

agree to pass a law that they do not
like
If political parties feel that they
would lose public support by not
taking up reforms, they would
There are two other ways in which political
become more serious about
parties can be reformed.
reforms.

People can put pressure on political

parties. This can be done through
petitions, publicity and agitations.

Political parties can improve if

It is difficult to reform politics if
those who want this, join political
ordinary citizens do not take
parties. The quality of democracy
part in it and simply criticise it
depends on the degree of public
from the outside.
participation.
NCERT QUESTIONS
In a democracy any group of citizens is free to
form a political party.

More than 750 parties are registered with the

Election Commission of India.

But not all these parties are serious

contenders in the elections.
We have seen how crucial political parties are for the
working of democracy.

● Since parties are the most visible face of

democracy, it is natural that people blame
parties for whatever is wrong with the working of
democracy.

● All over the world, people express strong

dissatisfaction with the failure of political
parties to perform their functions well.

● This is the case in our country too. Popular

dissatisfaction and criticism has focussed on
four problem areas in the working of political
parties.

● Political parties need to face and overcome

these challenges in order to remain effective
instruments of democracy.