Political Science

Chapter 6 Political Parties

Question 1.
What is meant by a political party? (2015 D, 2015 OD)
Answer:
• Political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and to hold
power in the government. They agree on some policies to promote collective good. They
seek to implement those policies by winning popular support through elections. Thus,
political parties tend to fill political offices and exercise political power.
Question 2.
What are the three main components of a political party? (2011 OD)
Answer:
• The leaders;
• The active members; and
• The followers
Question 3.
How many parties are needed in any democratic system to compete in elections and
provide a fair chance for the competing parties to come to power? (2012 D)
Answer:
• At least two parties.
Question 4.
What is the source of inspiration of the ‘Bhartiya Janata Party’? (2012 OD)
Answer:
• The source of inspiration of the Bhartiya Janata Party or the BJP is ancient Indian culture
and values.
Question 5.
In which state does ‘Biju Janata Dal’ exist as a regional party? (2012 OD)
Answer:
• Odisha (Orissa)
Question 6.
In which state does the ‘Rashtriya Lok Dal’ exist as a regional party? (2012 OD)
Answer:
• Uttar Pradesh
Question 7.
What is a recognised political party? (2011 D)
Answer:
• A recognised political party is a party, recognised by the ‘Election Commission’ with all
the privileges and facilities.
Question 8.
What does Universal Adult Suffrage stand for? (2013 OD)
Answer:
• Universal Adult suffrage stands for the ‘Right to Vote’.
Question 9.
Given one point of difference between a pressure group and a political party. (2013 OD)
Answer:
 • A pressure group is an organized or unorganized body that seeks to promote its interests
while a political party is a body that seeks to attain political power by contesting
elections.
Question 10.
Which special privilege is given to recognised political parties by the Election Commission?
(2014 D)
Answer:
• RPP are given a special election symbol. Only official candidates of that party can use the
election symbol.
Question 11.
Name the national political party which draws inspiration from the teachings of Sahu
Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, Naicker and Babasaheb Ambedkar. (2014 OD)
Answer:
• Bahujan Samaj Party.
Question 13.
Name any two regional parties of West Bengal. (2015 D)
Answer:

• Forward BLOCK (1940),

• TRINAMOOL CONGRESS (1997).
Question 14.
What is the guiding philosophy of Bhartiya Janata Party? (2015 OD)
Answer:
• The source of inspiration of Bharatiya Janata Party is the ancient Indian culture and
values. Cultural nationalism (Hindutva) is an important element in its conception of
Indian nationhood and politics.
Question 15.
Name any one political party that has national level political organisation but not
recognised as a national political party. (2016 D)
Answer:
• State parties like the Samajwadi Party, Samata Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal have
national level political organisations with units in several states but are not recognised as
national parties.
Question 16.
Why did India adopt multi-party system? Give reasons. (2016 OD, 2013 D)
Answer:
• India adopted multi-party system because:
• India is a large country and has social and geographical diversities.
• It is easy to absorb different diversities in a multi-party system.
Question 17.
Why do political parties involve partisanship? (2016 OD)
Answer:
• Partisanship is marked by a tendency to take a side and inability to take a balanced view
on an issue. Parties reflect fundamental political divisions in a society. Parties are a part
of the society and they involve partisanship.
Question 18.
Mention the ideology of Indian National Congress.
Answer:
• Under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Indian National Congress sought to build a
modern secular democratic republic in India. The party propagates secularism and
welfare of the weaker sections and minorities of society. It supports new economic
reforms but with a human face.
Question 19.
Name any one political party of India which grew out of a movement. (2017 OD)
Answer:
• Asom Gana Parishad.
Question 20
Name the national political party which gets inspiration from India’s ancient culture and
values. Mention four features of that party. (2013 D)
Answer:
• Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) founded in 1980 draws inspiration from India’s ancient
culture and values.
• Features:
• Cultural Nationalism (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.
• Earlier limited to north and west and to urban areas, the party expanded support in the
south, east, the north-east and rural areas.
Question 21.
“No party system is ideal for all countries and in all situations.” Justify the statement with
five arguments. (2013 0D)
Answer:
• Parties are a necessary condition for a democracy. The rise of political parties is directly
linked to the emergence of representative democracies. Party system is not something any
country can choose. It evolves depending on the nature of society, its social and regional
divisions, its history of politics and system of elections.
• Each country develops a party system that is conditioned by its special circumstances.
• For example, India has evolved a multi-party system, because of its social and
geographical diversity which cannot be easily absorbed by two or three parties.
• Political parties make policies to promote collective good and there can be different
views on what is good for all. Therefore, no system is ideal for all countries and
situations.
Question 22.
Describe the three components of a political party. (2014 D, 2015 OD)
Answer:
• Components of a political party are:

• The leaders,
• active members and
 • the followers.
• The leaders are recruited and trained by parties. They are made ministers to run the
government. The big policy decisions are taken by the political executives that come
from the political parties.
• Parties have lakhs of members and activists spread over the country. Many of the
pressure groups are the extensions of political parties among different sections of society.
But since most of the members belong to a party, they go by the direction of the party
leadership, irrespective of their personal opinion.
• The followers are the ordinary citizens, who believe in the policies of their respective
party and give popular support through elections. Often the opinion of the followers
crystallises on the lines parties take.
Question 23.
What is a multi-party system? Why has India adopted a multi-party system? Explain.
(2015 D)
(Or)
How has multi-party system strengthened democracy in India? (2012 D)
Answer:
• Multi-party system. In this system, the government is formed by various parties coming
together in a 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 three major alliances in 2004 parliamentary elections—
the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the
Left Front. This system on one hand leads to political instability but at the same time,
allows for a variety of interests and opinions to enjoy political representation
• Each country develops a party system that is suitable for its special circumstances. India
has evolved as a multi-party system because its social and geographical diversity cannot
be absorbed by two or three parties. Thus, such representation strengthens democracy.
Multi-party system facilitates representation of regional and geographical diversities. In
India, several regional parties are in power at the State level such as the DMK in Tamil
Nadu, Akali Dal in Punjab the BSP in Uttar Pradesh.

Question 24.
“Lack of internal democracy within parties is the major challenge to political parties all
over the world”. Analyse the statement. (2015 D)
Answer:

• Most political parties do not practise open and transparent procedures for their
functioning like maintaining membership registers, holding organisational meetings or
conducting internal elections regularly. Thus, ordinary members of the party do not get
sufficient information on the happenings in the party and have no means to influence the
decisions.
• Also, there are very few chances for an ordinary worker to rise to the top in a party. Since
one or, at the most, a few leaders exercise paramount power in the party, those who
disagree with the leadership, find it difficult to continue in the party.
• Those who happen to be the leaders are in a position to take undue advantage and favour
people close to them or even their family members. And, in many parties, the top
 positions are invariably controlled by members of one family which is bad for
democracy.
Question 25.
“Dynastic succession is one of the most serious challenges before the political parties.”
Analyse the statement. (2015 OD)
Answer:
• Most political parties do not practise open and transparent procedures for their
functioning. So there are very few ways for an ordinary worker to rise to the top in a
party. Those who happen to be the leaders are in a position of unfair advantage as they
favour people close to them or even their family members. In many parties in India, we
see a trend of dynastic succession. The top positions are always controlled by members of
a particular family, which is unfair to other members of the party, and bad for democracy.
This is so because people who do not have adequate experience or popular support come
to occupy positions of power.
• More than loyalty to party principles and policies, personal loyalty to the leader becomes
more important. This tendency is seen all over the world, even in older democracies.
Question 26.
What is meant by a ‘national political party’? State the conditions required to be a national
political party. (2016 D)
Answer:
• National political parties have their units in various states. By and large all these units
follow the same policies, programmes and strategy that is decided at the national level.
• Conditions required to be a national political party:
• A party that secures at least 6% of the total votes in general elections of Lok Sabha or
assembly elections in four states.
• A party that wins at least 4 seats in the Lok Sabha.
Question 27.
What is meant by regional political party? State the conditions required to be recognised as
a ‘regional political party’. (2016 OD)
Answer:
• A regional party is a party that is present in only some states. Regional parties or State
parties need not be regional in their ideology. They have state identity as they are present
only in some states. Some of these parties are all India parties that happen to have
succeeded only in states. Example, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janta Dal.
• Conditions required for a party to be recognized as a regional political party:
• A party that secures at least six percent of the total votes in an election to the legislative
assembly of a state.
• Wins at least two seats in the legislative assembly.
Question 28.
“Nearly every one of the state parties wants to get an opportunity to be a part of one or the
other national level coalition.” Support the statement with arguments. (2016 D)
Answer:
• The state parties also referred to as regional parties are not necessarily regional in
ideology. Some of these parties are all India parties that happen to have succeeded only in
some states. Over the last three decades, the number and strength of these parties has
 expanded. Before the general elections one national party was able to secure on its own a
majority in the Lok Sabha.
• As a result, the national parties were compelled to form alliances with state parties.
• Since 1996, nearly every one of the state parties got an opportunity to be a part of one or
the other national level coalition government. This contributed to the strengthening of
federalism and democracy. Example of state parties having national level political
organisation with units in several states are Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Janata Dal,
Samata Party.
Question 29.
Analyse the three components of a political party. (2016 OD)
Answer:
• The three components of a political party are as follows:
• The leaders. A political party consists of leaders, who contest elections and if they win
the elections, they perform the administrative jobs.
• The active members. They are the ones who work actively for the party. They are the
assistants of the leaders and implement the plans and ideologies of the political party.
• The followers. They are the ardent followers of the parties and their leaders and support
them in the elections.
Question 30.
Explain any five suggestions to reform political parties in India. (2011 D)
(Or)
Suggest and explain any five effective measures to reform political parties. (2016 OD, 2015
OD)
Answer:
• Five suggestions made to reform the political parties:
• Law to regulate the internal affairs of political parties like maintaining a register of its
members, to follow its own constitution, to have independent authority, to act as judge in
case of party dispute, to hold open elections to the highest post.
• It should be mandatory for political parties to give one-third tickets to women candidates.
Also, there should be quota for women on the decision-making bodies of the party.
• There should be state funding of elections. The government should give money to parties
to support their election expenses in kind (petrol, paper, telephone, etc.) or in cash on the
basis of votes secured by the party in the previous election.
• The candidate should be educated, so that he can solve and understand people’s
problems. His previous record should be cleared. He should be honest and there should
be no criminal case against him.
• Citizens can reform politics if they take part directly and join political parties. People can
put pressure on political parties through petitions, publicity in media, agitations etc.
Question 31.
Explain the growing role of money and muscle power in political parties. (2011 OD)
(Or)
How do money and muscle power play an important role in elections? (2015 OD)
Answer:
• Political parties need to face and overcome the growing challenge of Money and Muscle
power during elections in order to remain effective instruments of democracy.
 • Since parties are focussed only on winning elections, they tend to use shortcuts to win
elections, for example, like booth-rigging, distribution of food, money, alcohol, etc. to the
poor voters to get their votes. Political parties tend to nominate those candidates who
have or can raise lots of money. Rich people and companies who give funds to the parties
tend to have influence on the policies and decisions of the party. These days, parties are
supporting criminals who can win elections. This is a major cause of concern to the
democrats all over the world who are worried about the increasing role of rich people and
big companies in democratic politics.
Question 32.
Why do we need political parties? Explain. (2014 D)
Or
Describe any five major functions performed by political parties. (2015 D)
Answer:
• To fill political offices and exercise political power, political parties are needed to
perform a series of functions, which are the following:
• Parties contest elections. Elections are fought mainly among candidates put up by
political parties.
• In India, top party leaders choose candidates for contesting elections.
• Parties put forward different policies and programmes. Political parties in a democracy
group together similar opinions, to provide a direction in which government policies can
be formulated,
• Parties make laws for a country. Laws are debated and passed in the legislature.
• Parties that lose elections play the role of the opposition. Opposition parties voice their
views by criticizing government for its failure or wrong policies.
• Parties shape public opinion. They raise and highlight issues and resolve people’s
problems. Many pressure groups are the extensions of political parties.
• Parties provide people access to government machinery and welfare schemes. For an
ordinary citizen it is easy to approach a local party leader than a government officer.
Question 33.
Examine the role of opposition parties in a Democracy. (2014 OD)
Answer:
• Opposition parties play an important role in democracies. They play both positive and
negative role. Positive role,
• They ensure political party in power does not misuse or abuse its power;
• They expose the weaknesses of the ruling party;
• They also keep a close vigil on the bills and expenditure of the government.
• Negative role.
• They target the government and aim at dislodging and discrediting the government for all
the ills and the troubles the people face;
• Through stalling the proceedings of the parliament, dhamas and gheravs, it curtails the
progress of the country.
• The opposition’s work is not to abstract the functioning of the administration but keep a
close watch on the working of the party in power so that democracy becomes meaningful.
Question 34
“About hundred years ago there were few countries that had hardly any political party.
Now there are few countries that do not have political parties.” Examine this statement.
(2014 OD)
Answer:
• We can understand the necessity of political parties by imagining a situation without
parties. Every candidate in the election will be independent. Therefore, no major policy
changes will be made. Elected representatives will be accountable to their constituency
but no one will be responsible for the smooth running of the country. As societies become
large and complex, they need an agency to gather views on various issues and to present
them to the government. There is a need to bring various representatives together so that
a responsible government can be formed.
• A mechanism is needed to support or restrain the government to make policies, justify or
oppose them. Political parties fulfil the needs of a representative government and are thus
a necessary condition for a democracy.
Question 35.
“All over the world, people express their dissatisfaction with the failure of political parties
to perform their functions well.” Analyse the statement with arguments. (2016 D)
(Or)
Which three challenges do you feel are being faced by political parties in India? Give your
opinion. (2016 OD)
(Or)
Identify and explain challenges which political parties need to face and overcome in order
to remain affective instruments of democracy. (2016 OD)
Answer:
• Since parties are the most visible face in a democracy, people blame them for whatever is
wrong with the working of democracy.
• There are four major areas where the working of political parties faces challenge:
• Lack of internal democracy. There is concentration of power in one or a few leaders at the
top. Parties do not keep membership registers, do not hold organisational meetings and
do not conduct internal elections regularly. More than loyalty to party principles and
policies, it is personal loyalty which becomes more important. The leaders assume greater
power to make decisions in the name of the party. Since one or few leaders exercise
paramount power in the party, those who disagree with leadership find it difficult to
continue in the party.
• Dynastic succession. In many parties, top positions are always held by members of one
family. Most political parties do not practice transparent and open procedures for their
functioning and it is very difficult for an ordinary worker to rise to the top. This is bad for
democracy, since people who do not have adequate experience or popular support come
to occupy positions of power.
• Money and muscle power. Since parties are focussed only on winning elections, they tend
to use short-cuts to win elections. They nominate candidates who have or can raise
money and thus are able to have influence on the policies and decisions of the party.
• No meaningful choice. There has been a decline in the ideological differences among
parties. They agree more on fundamental aspects, but differ only in details, on how
 policies are to be framed and implemented. Sometimes people cannot even elect different
leaders as the same set of leaders keep shifting from one party to another.
Question 36.
“Political parties are a necessary condition for a democracy”. Analyse the statement with
examples.
Answer:
• “Political parties are a necessary condition for a democracy” in the following ways:
• Without political parties’ democracies cannot exist. If we do not have political parties,
every candidate in elections will be independent.
• 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 uncertain.
• Elected representatives will be accountable to their constituency, for what they do in their
locality but no one will be responsible for how the country will run.
• As societies become large and complex, they also needed some agencies to gather
different views on various issues and to present these to the government, that’s why
political parties are needed.
Question 37.
Describe any five efforts made to reform political parties in India. (2017 D)
Answer:
Five efforts made to reform the political parties:
• Law to regulate the internal affairs of political parties like maintaining a register of its
members, to follow its own constitution, to have independent authority, to act as judge in
case of party dispute, to hold open elections to the highest post.
• It should be mandatory for political parties to give one-third tickets to women candidates.
Also, there should be quota for women on the decision-making bodies of the party.
• There should be state funding of elections. The government should give money to parties
to support their election expenses in kind (petrol, paper, telephone, etc.) or in cash on the
basis of votes secured by the party in the previous election.
• The candidate should be educated, so that he can solve and understand people’s
problems. His previous record should be cleared. He should be honest and there should
be no criminal case against him.
• Citizens can reform politics if they take part directly and join political parties. People can
put pressure on political parties through petitions, publicity in media, agitations etc.